Quarterlytics / Real Estate / REIT - Residential / American Campus Communities

American Campus Communities

acc · LSE Real Estate
Claim this profile
Ticker acc
Exchange LSE
Sector Real Estate
Industry REIT - Residential
Employees 201-500
← All annual reports
FY2016 Annual Report · American Campus Communities
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
Company Registration number: 04799195

Intelligently 
#connected

Access Intelligence Plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 
For the year ended 30 November 2016

2

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

Access Intelligence is 
a leading provider of 
#software as a service 
solutions that manage 
#reputation and 
#communications

London, England

www.accessintelligence.com

3

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC4

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCContents

Business Overview

Financial Statements

7  Chairman’s Statement

8  The Vuelio Brand

10  Strategic Report

Corporate Governance

42   Consolidated Statement  
of Comprehensive Income

44  Consolidated Statement  
of Financial Position

46  Consolidated Statement  
of Changes in Equity

50  Consolidated Statement  

30  Directors and Advisers

of Cash Flow

32  Directors’ Report

38  Corporate Governance

40  Independent Auditor’s Report

52  Notes to the Consolidated  

Financial Statements

96  Company Statement  
of Financial Position

97  Company Statement  
of Changes in Equity

98   Notes to the Company  
Financial Statements

5

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

Chairman’s  
 #Statement

I am pleased to announce our results for the year ended 30 November 2016.

Over  the  last  twelve  months,  we  have  continued  the  realignment  of  the  Access  Intelligence  portfolio  to 
position  and  support  Vuelio  as  its  flagship  brand,  one  poised  to  take  advantage  of  big  opportunities  in  the 
communications management market. We have effectively built a new Vuelio business, in part through the 
integration of assets acquired from our competitor Cision in 2015, but also with an accelerated programme of 
development and product upgrades for longstanding Vuelio customers.

The integration centred on a large migration project bringing more than a thousand customers onto the Vuelio 
platform,  in  conjunction  with  restructuring  of  both  operational  and  commercial  parts  of  the  business.  This 
restructuring and refocusing on Vuelio included the divestment of non-core subsidiary companies Due North 
Limited and AITrackRecord Limited during the year, as well as AIControlPoint Limited after the year end. At the 
same time, the development work, essential for migration, has protected our existing business and opened 
new opportunities.  With costs associated with reorganisations and migrations, it was always going to be a 
challenging year, I`m pleased to say it has also been rewarding and operationally successful.

Following this hard work of integration, our 2017 strategy is largely one of consolidation providing a foundation 
for incremental growth from 2018 onwards. We believe there are significant short-term opportunities for Vuelio 
in the UK market: a number of major competitors are still engaged in their own M&A activity; at the same time, 
the unique mix of the Vuelio portfolio leads us to believe that the business will benefit from recent political 
upheaval and attendant growth in the market for integrated PR and public affairs solutions.  2017 will also bring 
the launch of mobile, networked communications services, the first outputs from an innovative roadmap that 
we expect will secure sustainable growth through 2018 and beyond. 

2017 has started well with the completion of migrations of the final and most complex customers onto our 
enhanced Vuelio platform. Following the consolidation of the 1,192 migrated acquisition customers with our 
existing PR and Communications customer base, we expect to see a small increase in our contracted Software 
as a Service (SaaS) customer base through 2017. 

Revenue from continuing operations in March 2017 was £653,000 with gross margin of 66%, a reduction as a 
result of exiting non-profitable customer contracts pre-migration to minimise gross margin reduction. We have 
seen a significant improvement in new business sales performance and retention rates in the first four months 
of the current year and expect this to continue as our enhanced product gains further traction in the market.

The  full  benefit  of  the  restructuring  undertaken  during  H2  2016  will  not  be  seen  until  2017,  with  monthly 
operational spend excluding 3rd party content and hosting, restructuring, and migration expense expected to 
reduce from £629,000 in Q4 2016 to £517,000 by Q4 2017. This represents an annualised saving of £1.3 million. 
After emerging from an all-encompassing period of acquisition integration, we are confident that we have the 
makings of a good business.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you on behalf of the board for your continued support of Access 
Intelligence.

Sincerely

M Jackson 
Chairman
28 April 2017

7

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCOur Flagship  
#Brand

Vuelio  operates  a  comprehensive  portfolio  of  products  and  services  for 
communications professionals throughout the UK and Europe, with a particular focus 
on public relations, public affairs and influencer marketing.

This  new  flagship  brand  was  created  last  year  following  our  acquisition  of  the 
UK  operations  of  global  PR  software  provider  Cision,  a  deal  that  expanded  our 
communications sector customer base six-fold and added a wealth of operational 
and commercial talent.

Vuelio software supports effective, joined-up communications management across a 
wide range of stakeholders. The full integrated suite is a complete solution for public 
relations,  public  affairs  and  influencer  marketing  professionals.  We  help  them  to 
identify and engage with high-value traditional media, digital and political influencers 
and  internal  communications  audiences,  and  record  and  measure  all  aspects  of 
their communications activity – allowing performance benchmarking and informing 
decision-making. 

We  work  across  all  sectors,  and  have  an  especially  strong  presence  in  the  public 
sector  and  in  many  highly-regulated  industries,  where  our  superior  technology  for 
recording and measurement meets stringent requirements. In addition, our customer 
base  includes  a  larger  number  of  SMEs  representing  a  wide  range  of  sectors,  for 
whom media and influencer data is all important. 

The Vuelio system connects both worlds. With the number and variety of influencers 
of interest to any given organisation growing by the minute, Vuelio not only ensures its 
users have informed access to the right audiences, but also records and measures 
engagement activity, establishing value for every single interaction in what is a rapidly 
increasing volume of corporate communications.

The number and value of these interactions is key to the long-term success of the 
brand.  Inherent  in  this  approach  is  a  broader  stakeholder  management  model:  to 
maintain standards for our influencer database, to ensure that traditional journalists, 
bloggers and emerging digital influencers engage with our brand and the customers 
who rely on it, we act as custodian to Europe’s largest influencer community.  Creating 
the means for this community to express itself though our software is key to further 
growing the network, the volume of connections it supports, and ultimately the Vuelio 
brand itself. 

8

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

9

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCStrategic Report

Results

2016 has been another year of transformation with the further integration of the business assets acquired 
in June 2015. It has included the build and launch of our new Vuelio platform, the successful migration of  
1,192 customers to this platform and the divestment of two, non-core businesses.

Recurring revenues from continuing operations increased 39% to £8,834,000 (2015: £6,366,000) including 
the full year contribution from the business acquired in June 2015, with recurring revenues constituting 
92% of revenues (2015: 95%).

Gross margin from continuing operations declined to 56% (2015: 72%), primarily due to the full year impact 
of the acquired business which runs at a lower margin than the other parts of the business due to the cost 
associated with the provision of third party data content to support monitoring and insights services in the 
software platform. The gross margin also reflects £1,244,000 (2015: £332,000) of one-off costs associated 
with the transitional hosting and migration of the 1,192 migrated customers to our new Vuelio platform.  The 
gross margin excluding these one-time costs was 69% (2015: 77%).

The Group continued to undertake extensive restructuring during the year, integrating the acquired business, 
divesting non-core businesses in the second half of the year, and restructuring and reducing costs in the 
remaining business.  The full year benefit of this second half activity is not fully reflected in the 2016 financial 
performance,  however  administrative  expenses  include  one-off  redundancy  and  legal  costs  associated 
with this restructuring of £285,000 (2015: £260,000).

As a result of the restructuring and refocusing of the business during the year, earnings before interest, tax, 
depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from continuing operations declined to a loss of £2,027,000 (2015: 
loss £951,000 before impairment charges of £30,000). Excluding the one-off expenses referenced above, 
EBITDA from continuing operations was a loss of £498,000 (2015: loss of £359,000).

Operating  loss  from  continuing  operations  before  impairments  was  £3,042,000  (2015:  loss  £1,541,000). 
In  arriving  at  the  operating  loss  the  Group  has  incurred  £1,664,000  (2015:  £650,000)  in  research  and 
development expenditure and charged £1,015,000 (2015: £590,000) for depreciation and amortisation, £Nil 
(2015:  £153,000)  in  acquisition  costs,  £Nil  (2015:  £70,000)  loss  on  disposal  of fixed  assets  and  £285,000 
(2015: £260,000) in restructuring costs.

The Group made a profit for the year from discontinued operations of £1,511,000 (2015: loss of £1,934,000). 
Further information relating to discontinued operations is provided on page 28 of the Strategic Report and 
within note 6 to the consolidated financial statements.

2017  will  see  continued  restructuring  of  the  business  and  investment  in  the  Vuelio  brand  with  the  full 
benefits expected to come through towards the end of the current financial year and into 2018.

Loss per share

The basic loss per share from continuing operations was 1.10p (2015: loss 0.52p). Basic earnings per share 
from discontinued operations was 0.48p (2015: loss 0.76p).

10

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
 
Cash

Cash at the year-end stood at £1,162,000 (2015: £1,523,000) whilst net debt, calculated as loan notes less 
cash held, decreased to £2,113,000 (2015: £2,593,000) during the year. 

Key Performance Indicators

On a monthly basis management accounts are prepared which provide performance indicators covering 
revenue, gross margins, EBITDA, result before tax, result after tax, cash balances and recurring revenue. The 
key performance indicators for the year are:

£’000
Continuing Operations
Revenue

Gross margin (%)

EBITDA - loss

Loss before taxation

Loss after taxation

Cash balances

Recurring revenue

2016

9,598

56%

(2,027)

(3,437)

(3,474)

1,162

8,834

2015

6,687

72%

(951)

(1,836)

(1,309)

1,523

6,366

These  performance  indicators  are  measured  against  both  an  approved  budget  and the  previous year’s 
actual results. Further analysis of the Group’s performance is provided earlier in this Strategic Report.

Each  month  the  Board  assesses  the  performance  of  the  Group  based  on  key  performance  indicators. 
These are used in conjunction with the controls described in the corporate governance statement and 
relate to a wide variety of aspects of the business, including: new business and renewal sales performance; 
marketing, development and research activity; year to date financial performance, profitability forecasting 
and cash flow forecasting.

Dividend

As a result of the significant investment the Company has made in the strategic product innovation and 
sales development, the directors do not propose to pay a dividend for 2016 (2015: £Nil). 

Principal business risks and uncertainties

The developing nature of the business dictates that the Board understands the market in which it competes 
and the  strategy that  it  is  implementing. The  Statement  of  Corporate  Governance  notes the  objectives 
and mechanisms of internal control. Monthly Board meetings are held, where strategy is discussed and 
decisions  taken,  supplemented  by  more  regular  operational  meetings  held  by  management  teams  at 
subsidiary level. 

The  Board  constantly  assesses  risks  and  is  of  the  belief  that  internal  control,  risk  management  and 
stewardship  are  integral  to  the  proper  management  of  the  business.  Further  information  in  relation  to 
risk management is provided on page 26 of the Strategic Report and within note 22 to the consolidated 
financial statements.

The Board also assesses the appropriateness of preparing the financial statements on a going concern 
basis  and  their  considerations  in  respect  of  the  risks  relating  to  going  concern  are  outlined  within  the 
Directors’ Report on page 35.

11

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
Financial instruments

The Group’s operations are subject to a variety of financial risks, most notably the effect of credit risks. 
Liquidity risks are set out in note 22 to the consolidated financial statements. At the year end the Group 
had no bank borrowings or overdrafts, but had a total of £3,275,000 of loan notes in issue. The Group held 
£1,162,000 of bank deposits. The Group does not enter into derivative contracts.

5%  (2015:  8%)  of  the  Group’s  revenue  is  invoiced  in  a  currency  other  than  sterling.  Accordingly,  foreign 
exchange risk is not considered a significant risk. To date the magnitude of euro-based sales has been such 
that we have not hedged the currency exposure. In relation to US dollar denominated sales, due to the 
insignificance of dollar sales and unpredictability of such collections from debtors we do not hedge and 
simply hold to pay suppliers invoicing in dollars or convert if needed into sterling at spot. At 30 November 
2016 there were no open exchange contracts.

The most significant financial risk to which the Group is exposed is that of the credit worthiness of our 
customer base. Around 34% (2015: 33%) of the Group’s revenue from continuing operations is contracted 
with the public sector where the directors have judged the credit risk to be minimal.

The remaining sales are with the private sector where we have experienced a small incidence of bad debts. 
We have not considered it necessary to take out credit insurance for the following reasons:
• almost all customers are invoiced in advance;
• most invoices are not of a high value;
• no significant concentration of invoices are with any one customer; and
• in many cases we are able to switch off the service the moment a debt becomes overdue.

The Group holds a number of deposits with UK tax payer-owned banks or well-known high street banks. 
In recent years we have become increasingly aware that even financial institutions such as banks are not 
immune to financial risk. That said, the directors review the financial position of their deposit holders on a 
regular basis and are satisfied with their credit worthiness at this time.

Information about the use of financial instruments by the Group is given in note 21 to the financial statements. 
The Group has also previously issued convertible loan notes as disclosed in the financial statements.

12

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
13

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC
 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

14

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

Pure #reputation 
management
Strategy

Access  Intelligence  provides  software  for  companies  looking  to  build,  maintain  and  protect 
their  reputation  through  communications  management.  Over  the  last  eighteen  months  we 
have  consolidated our portfolio to create a communications pureplay focused on public affairs, 
investor relations and, in particular, public relations markets, which will in our view create superior 
returns for shareholders, both short- and longer term.

Public relations (PR) is a form of marketing communications between an individual or organisation 
and the public. Historically, media relations have been at the heart of PR’s efforts to connect 
organisations with the audiences most important to them, based on the assumption that large 
parts of the target audience can be accessed most efficiently via mass media. 

Over the past 10-15 years there have been widespread changes in the media, that have in turn 
required the PR industry to adapt. As the internet has undermined the economics of traditional 
newspapers, it has reduced the effectiveness of traditional PR; at the same time, the web offers 
new channels through which to engage wider audiences, either directly or through a new breed 
of influencers with a mastery of digital technology.

The  software  that  currently  dominates  the  market  for  PR  professionals  is,  considering  these 
recent changes, at risk of becoming outdated. Even the most sophisticated integrated solutions 
represent combinations of functionality designed to support traditional media relations activities: 
building lists of journalists to target, and tracking and analysing communications campaigns and 
news releases.

While  these  activities  remain  relevant,  the  changed  environment  has  added  a  range  of  new 
PR practices. New software solutions are required to support social media activity, a plethora 
of options have increased the need to understand the return on investment  (ROI) of various 
channels,  and  there  is  increasing  overlap  with  other  disciplines:  internal  communications, 
marketing activities such as brand and event management, and public affairs.

Public  affairs  practitioners  seek  to  influence  public  policy  by  working  across  a  range  of 
stakeholders. Their work combines strategic media communications with government relations, 
issue  management  and  Corporate  Social  Responsibility.  While  the  market  for  public  affairs 
software is smaller than that for the wide-ranging communications industry, an ability to bridge 
PR, digital communications and public affairs gives Vuelio a unique edge, both in the UK and 
globally.

15

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
The Communications 
Management Market

The communications management market comprises four complementary segments - media monitoring, 
media  analysis,  media  data  management  and  channel  distribution,  in  addition  to  public  affairs.  All  are 
served by a variety of legacy competitors, in the UK, across EMEA and globally. 

EMEA Communications Management Market by Segment (2015)

MEDIA 
MONITORING

£440m

SOCIAL MEDIA 
MANAGEMENT

£139m 

INFLUENCER 
MANAGEMENT

£92m 

MEDIA ANALYSIS

£111m

PRESS RELEASE 
DISTRIBUTION

£168m

Source: Burton Taylor International Consulting “Media Intelligence and Public Relations Information/
Software Global Share and Segment Sizing 2016 Report”

While  all  of these  segments  are well-established they  are  also  subject to  continued  growth, fuelled  by 
disruptive technology in both communications and the media, and the re-evaluation of core communications/
branding activities as traditional PR fuses with digital marketing.

Both  media  data/influencer  management  and  media  analysis  show  high  single-figure  five-year  CAGR; 
although the longer-term growth prospects for media monitoring are more limited, this segment is by far 
the largest, worth over a billion dollars globally, so that even small percentage growth equates to significant 
opportunities. Moreover, the emergence of parallel social media services – monitoring, analysis, influencer 
database management and engagement tools – is transforming the market, with these segments growing 
at around 35 per cent CAGR.  

The global market for all of these services is estimated at around $3bn, and we believe the UK market is 
worth approximately £320m – making this the largest market in Europe.

16
16

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC17

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCThe Vuelio  
#edge

Our influencer management systems are particularly well positioned to capitalise on this growth. 
Furthermore, we believe the recent wave of consolidation – which included Vuelio’s acquisition 
of the UK assets of Cision in 2015 - and its continuation in 2016 provides an opportunity for Vuelio 
while the bigger legacy players work their way through integration. 

Although the $1.2bn EMEA market (Source: ibid) is the world’s most fragmented, with many small 
to medium players creating pressure through pricing, modelling and solutions for each individual 
market segment, there is significant and rising demand for the single, integrated solution Vuelio 
offers. Traditional PR end users need both traditional media and social media management services, 
while influence marketers need integrated influencer management, engagement, monitoring and 
analysis.

Furthermore, Vuelio offers another unique layer of integration in the form of political engagement 
services. We currently estimate the UK market for these political services at just under 10 per cent 
of  the  overall  UK  communications  services  market.  With  recent  political  upheaval  we  foresee 
a  significant  increase  in  demand  as  more  and  more  organisations  seek  political  intelligence, 
particularly  the  long-tail  of  smaller  organisations  that  have  hitherto  been  priced  out  of  more 
consultative political services.

1818

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC19

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

Disruptive 
#innovation
2016: A transformative year

The financial year 2016 was not without challenges, being in no small part taken up by migrating acquired 
customers  on  to  the  Vuelio  platform.  While  ensuring  that  migrated  customers  received  a  like-for-like 
experience  with  Vuelio  software,  we  have  also  begun  developing  new  solutions  within  existing  market 
segments.

In  the  last  twelve  months,  we  have  migrated  1,192  customers  with  combined  revenues  of  more  than 
£5 million on to a new platform. At the same time, we have added over 350 new customers. The rapid 
expansion of the Vuelio business and the integration of what was essentially three different UK businesses 
(Vuelio, Cision UK and the Vocus UK assets Cision had recently acquired) demanded significant restructuring 
across the business as a whole. This focus on the Vuelio business included the divestment of two non-core 
GRC businesses, Due North Limited and AITrackRecord Limited, with AIControlPoint Limited divested post 
year-end.

Vuelio Customer Migrations Process

Created 
Bespoke 
Analysis

Delivered 
Training 
Sessions

Migrated 
News 
Articles

Created 
Private Data 
Records

Mapped 
Unique Data 
Points

20

Migrated 
Media 
Records

Transitioned 
Customer 
Contracts

Developed New 
Functionality

Moved 
Customer 
Print Orders

Setup Custom 
Online 
Searches

S
o
u
r
c
e

:

V
u
e

l
i

o

i

n
t
e
r
n
a

l

r
e
s
e
a
r
c
h

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
 
 
The New Vuelio 
#product suite 

While  ensuring that  migrated  customers  received  at the very  least  a  like-for-like  experience with Vuelio 
software, we have also begun to launch new and enhanced solutions for existing market segments. In 2016 
we have:

• 

Integrated media and political databases, while enhancing contact profiles with influencer metrics from 
a number of new external data providers including Moz, SimilarWeb and Klout.

•  Upgraded the email analytics and added new social channels

•  Developed and launched new newsroom functionality to provide an out-of-the -box offering

•  Negotiated a deal with premier online distribution and newswire provider RealWire to provide global 

wire distribution services

•  Created Canvas, a unique combination of clipbook and newsroom functionality that draws on social 

media design tropes

•  Negotiated new media monitoring contracts with best-in-class suppliers including Gorkana, Precise, TV 

Eyes and Moreover

•  Enriched our analytics with a raft of new social media data

With restructuring complete along with the integration of all our existing services, and the development of 
new services proceeding apace, we believe we have established Vuelio as a competitive, disruptive force 
that is beginning to impact significantly in the UK market and that we are now positioned to enter a new 
growth phase.

21

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

1313

2222

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCOur strategy for 
#growth in 2017

In the short term, we see three core drivers of growth, all of which also contribute to the creation of a 
platform for sustainable accelerated growth mid-term and beyond: 

Increased share of legacy markets

We  have  refocused  our  commercial  structure  to  optimise  the  value 
of  the  integrated  portfolio  and  extend  our  reach  into  the  enterprise 
space  using  domain  and  industry  experience.  We  believe  will  have 
an  advantage    while  our  competitors  continue  to  work  through  the 
consequences of acquisition and consolidation

Increased value per subscription

The knowledge, creativity and industry experience of our people, our 
ability to manage customers to satisfaction, and the ability to market 
to customers within the Vuelio system promotes up- and cross-selling 
opportunities

Additional revenues from new products

The  Vuelio  database  and  newsrooms  currently  meet  the  needs  of, 
respectively, digital marketers and investor relations specialists to an 
extent quite unlike our legacy competitors’ comparable offerings. The 
new Canvas functionality is already making an impact both within the 
software and as a standalone product

The impact of each driver is heightened by our focus on recurring revenue, wherein our approach ranges 
from multi-year contracts at the higher value end of our customer base to a frictionless renewal process 
for single-year contracts. The Vuelio SaaS model allows for rapid scaling of customers and users, as well 
as quick roll-out of messaging, upgrades and new services, underpinning our approach in 2017. 

23

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCw

Our longer-term 
#vision

Careful management of costs has allowed us to maintain R&D investment during a transitional 2016, and 
the first new services have been well received in the market. Longer term, we expect accelerated growth 
through disruptive innovation, particularly in the social media/influence marketing segment.  

Expanding  and  diversifying  the  network  of  users,  while  increasing  the  value  of  each  user  through 
personalisation of their individual experience of the system, will be key to mid-term growth. In preparation 
for the roll-out of technology in support of this approach, we will look to strengthen existing relationships 
and build new ones within the network of influencers our database represents.  We will continue to build this 
community through a varied sequence of live events in 2017, ranging from intimate networking breakfasts 
to the Vuelio Blog Awards – the biggest celebration of digital influence in Europe, now in its third year.

At  the  same  time,  we  are  establishing  the  path  toward  full  integration  of  all  Access  Intelligence  group 
systems through the convergence of media measurement with influence and risk metrics in a machine-
learning environment. We believe that the study of content, the various forms in which that content can 
appear, and its progression through the myriad networks of influencers that is the contemporary media will 
provide both richer, more informative analysis solutions and predictive technology to help our customers 
in their day-to-day work and longer term planning.

The management team’s work in defining short- and long-term strategic priorities is receiving increased 
focus, following a detailed review of commercial strategy. Further product and commercial strategy reviews 
will follow the completion of the migration project to focus on the performance of the new product in the 
market and the new opportunities we have identified. 

2424

24

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCw

Our culture and 
#values

In  a  relationship  business,  a  network  business,  our  success  is  predicated  not  only  on  our  technology, 
but also on the kind of connection with customers that can only come from an educated, engaged and 
inspired workforce. 

We believe a successful business is built on values expressing behaviours that, when demonstrated by 
the organisation as a whole, allow us to deliver against our plan.  As such, the assessment of employees’ 
expressed and perceived commitment to transparency, collaboration and innovation form a key part of 
our recruitment and performance management processes, providing a formal framework for identifying 
and nurturing appropriate talent.

Within that framework, we’re dedicated to recruiting the most knowledgeable, insightful staff – and then 
ensuring they receive the training and development required to make the trusted, expert members of our 
network. 

And  as  we  look  to  establish  and  maintain  the  best  possible  working  environment,  we  are  consistently 
seeking  feedback  about  working  experiences  and  inviting  contributions  to  the  planning  processes  that 
inform everything we do, from day-to-day operations to high-level strategy. As such, the same values that 
characterise  our  everyday  behaviours  also  define  our  broader  ambitions  and  support  our  approach  to 
achieving them.

25

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

Risk Management

The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks which are managed by the Group and subsidiary 
management teams as part of their day-to-day responsibilities. The Group’s overall risk management policy 
concentrates on those areas of exposure most relevant to its operations. These fall into four categories:

• Competitive risk — that our products are no longer competitive or relevant to our customers
• Cash flow and liquidity risk — that we run out of the cash required to run the business
• Credit risk — that our customers do not pay
• Key personnel risk — that we cannot attract and retain talented people

Competitive risk

All of our businesses are active in competitive markets. These markets are predominantly UK based but 
nevertheless face global competition. To succeed we need staff with the appropriate skills, offering state of 
the art product and service solutions at competitive prices. They need a full understanding of the benefits 
and attributes of our products as well as an understanding of competitor products. They also need to know 
about sales opportunities on a timely basis.

As a small company, with limited resources, we need to manage our product investments with care but 
we tackle these risks as follows:

• We encourage investment as needed to maintain our market leading status through product research 
and development;
• We are growing our sales and marketing teams across the Group in a controlled manner;
• We make time and funds available for staff training;
• We incentivise through balanced sales commission schemes; and
• We monitor individual sales person performance, taking action where necessary.

Cash flow and liquidity risk

As a Group we support the cash requirements of five individual trading units, all of which have their individual 
working capital requirements during a trading month. At the end of 2016 we had no bank borrowings (2015: 
Nil)  but  £3,275,000  (2015:£4,083,000)  of  loan  notes. As  an  acquisitive  business which  also  invests  in  its 
existing  infrastructure  continually,  the  need  to  project  future  requirements  is  important.  To  encourage 
tough cash management and good planning we manage cash as follows:

• We collect and communicate a weekly cash summary every Friday by subsidiary;
• We pay sales commissions, where appropriate but only once cash is received for larger sales;
• We monitor detailed ageing analysis of debtors from each subsidiary on a monthly basis; and
• We encourage subsidiary cash generation by monitoring the ageing of debtors.

Credit risk

Our  sales  are  split  34%:66%  (2015:  33%:67%)  between  public  and  private  sector  organisations.  Whilst 
recognising  that  circumstances  change,  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  public  sector  will  pay  its  debts 
providing the purchasing rules have been followed. Despite the tough solvency issues facing all European 
governments we have seen no reason to change this view at the present time. The private sector however 
remains a higher risk and we remain diligent about our approach to these sales:

• We track aged debtors very diligently, reporting them monthly at Group Board level; and
•  For  sales  of  value  above  set  limits,  we  do  not  pay  commission  until  payment  is  received  from  the 
customer.

2626

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
Key personnel risk

This is a people business. Our technical staff create the product and our sales staff sell it, supported by 
our marketing staff. In 2016 63% (2015: 78%) of our outflows were on people. In a competitive market we 
recognise good people can be poached or just lose their way. There is nothing that can beat a motivated, 
educated and focused team. Whilst our size limits the extent of our actions, we address this risk as follows:

• We take care to take references when recruiting;
• Managers monitor performance individually whatever the role in the organisation;
• We offer training of specific skills where appropriate;
• We encourage flat management structures, open plan offices and easy accessibility up and down the 
organisation;
• We pay competitive market prices whilst recognising regional differences;
• We have an approved option scheme for senior employees; and
• A number of key personnel are significant shareholders in their own right.

Capital risk management

The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going 
concern providing long-term returns for shareholders and security for other stakeholders whilst maintaining 
optimal capital structure to allow for future acquisition and growth.

In order to manage the overall objective above, the Group gives consideration to the following:

The Board views equity firstly as the key source of funding for acquisitions and secondly as an important 
incentivisation tool for management. These are the key justifications for the Group’s AIM quotation.

In  relation  to  acquisitions,  the  appropriate  funding  structure  will  be  a  blend  of  our  own  available  cash, 
gearing and equity. The structure for each transaction will take into account our intention for an immediate 
enhancement in earnings per share.

The Board is also sensitive to the fact that there may be times when capital is in short supply justifying 
fundraising  beyond  our  immediate  needs.  With  a  buy  and  build  strategy  new  acquisition  opportunities 
must be responded to as they arise, though during the remainder of 2017 the focus will be to build on 
developing what we have.

As an incentive for management we offer equity based payments, in line with market prices at the time of 
grant, aligning the long-term interests of shareholders and key executives.

The total capital managed by the Group at the year end was 315,935,118 (2015: 307,127,015) ordinary shares 
of 0.5p each. Further information on share capital is provided within note 24 to the consolidated financial 
statements.

The Group is not subject to any externally imposed capital requirements.

27

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
Disposal of non-core 
assets

During  the  year  and  after  the  reporting  date,  the  Group  has  continued  to  divest  non-core  subsidiary 
companies as part of its strategy to focus on the Vuelio  reputation and communications management 
business.

Due North Limited

On 3 February 2016, Access Intelligence agreed terms to dispose of 100% of the issued share capital of 
its subsidiary Due North Limited, for a consideration totalling £4,500,000. Group profit on disposal of Due 
North Limited was £1,664,000. Company profit on disposal was £3,076,000.

AITrackRecord Limited

On 1 July 2016, Access Intelligence agreed terms to dispose of 100% of its subsidiary AITrackRecord Limited 
to TrackRecord Holdings Limited, a newly formed company. Consideration comprised 20% of the share 
capital of TrackRecord Holdings Limited and a deferred cash payment of £101,000. Group profit on disposal 
of AITrackRecord Limited was £585,000. Company profit on disposal was £632,000.

AIControlPoint

On 14  March  2017, Access  Intelligence  Plc transferred the trade  and  assets  of  its  division AIControlPoint 
to  its  subsidiary  company  formed  during  the  year,  AIControlPoint  Limited.  On  16  March  2017,  Access 
Intelligence Plc disposed of 100% of the issued share capital of AIControlPoint Limited for a consideration 
totalling £782,000. Group profit on disposal of the subsidiary was £588,000, Company profit on disposal 
was £639,000.

By order of the Board

J Arnold
Director
Approved by the directors on 28 April 2017

28
28

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC
 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

13

WE MIGRATED 

1,192 CUSTOMERS

29

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

Directors and Advisers

Directors:

Executive directors:
J Arnold            (Chief Executive Officer)

Non-executive directors:
M Jackson        (Chairman)
D Lowe
C Pilling           

Company Secretary:

M Greensmith

Registered Office:

Longbow House
14-20 Chiswell Street
London
EC1Y 4TW

Company Registration Number:

04799195

Bankers:

Bank of Scotland
Aldgate House
1-4 Market Place
Hull
HU1 1RA

Legal Advisers:

Fieldfisher LLP
Riverbank House 
2 Swan Lane 
London 
EC4R 3TT

Brokers and Nominated Adviser: 

Auditor:

Mazars LLP
Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditor
Tower Bridge House
St Katharine’s Way
London
E1W 1DD

Allenby Capital Limited
3 St Helen’s Place
London
EC3A 6AB

Registrars:

Neville Registrars Limited
Neville House
18 Laurel Lane
Halesowen 
West Midlands 
B63 3DA

3030

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
13

31

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

Directors’  
#Report

The  directors  present  their  annual  report  and  the  consolidated  financial 
statements  for  Access  Intelligence  Plc  (“the  Company”)  and  its  subsidiary 
undertakings  (together  referred  to  as  “the  Group”)  for  the  year  ended  30 
November 2016.

Principal activity

Access  Intelligence  provides  software  for  companies  looking  to  build,  maintain  and 
protect their reputation through communications management.

Review of business and future outlook

A review of the Group’s activities during the year and future outlook is set out in the 
Chairman’s Statement on page 7 and the Strategic Report on pages 10 to 29.

Results

The  consolidated trading  results for the year  and the year-end financial  position  are 
shown  in  the  financial  statements  on  pages  42  to  95.  The  results  for  the  year  and 
future prospects are reviewed in the Chairman’s Statement on page 7 and the Strategic 
Report on pages 10 to 29.

32

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

33

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCDirectors’ interestsThe directors who have served during the year and details of their interests, including family interests, in the Company’s ordinary 0.5p shares at 30 November 2016 are disclosed below:30-Nov-16 Beneficial No.30-Nov-16 Options No.30-Nov-15 Beneficial No.30-Nov-15 Options No.M Jackson29,098,961-20,865,8586,808,103D Lowe5,397,4751,841,8975,397,4751,841,897J Arnold5,000,0003,000,0005,000,0003,000,000The high and low price of shares during the year were 5.375p and 4.375p respectively.Substantial shareholdingsSave for the directors’ interests disclosed above together with the following shareholders, the directors are not aware of any other shareholdings representing 3% or more of the issued share capital of the Company at the year end.InvestorNo. of shares% holdingNature of holdingKestrel Partners LLP49,422,70017.3IndirectElderstreet VCT plc39,675,69013.9IndirectUnicorn AIM VCT plc28,066,8679.8IndirectOctopus Asset Management Ltd14,820,0005.2IndirectHawk Investment Holdings Ltd and Hawk Pension Ltd11,666,6674.1IndirectDavid Alderson9,342,7053.3DirectRay Jackson8,917,6823.1DirectIn addition to the above the following substantial shareholders are also holders of Loan Instruments.As at 30 November 2015Repaid during the yearAs at 30 November 2016Convertible loan notesNon-convertible loan notesNon-convertible loan notesConvertible loan notesNon-convertible loan notesElderstreet VCT plc700,000300,000-700,000300,000Unicorn AIM VCT plc750,000300,000-750,000300,000Kestrel Partners LLP400,000900,000(900,000)400,000-Hawk Investment Holdings Ltd300,000300,000300,000300,000Octupus Asset Management Ltd.200,000--200,000-2,350,0001,800,000(900,000)2,350,000900,00034

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCThe Company has two issues of convertible loan notes and one issue of non-convertible loan notes.In 2014, the Company agreed terms with Elderstreet VCT and Unicorn AIM VCT plc to extend the loans issued in  June 2009 such that they mature on 31 December 2015, with enhanced interest at 8% during this extended period  with conversion rights unchanged at 4p per share. In January 2016, the maturity date of the loan notes was extended to 31 December 2016 with all other terms remaining unchanged.In December 2016, the maturity date of the loan notes was extended to 31 December 2017 with all other terms remaining unchanged. As such, the notes are redeemable at par on maturity or convertible to ordinary shares at 4p per ordinary share on or before maturing on 31 December 2017 and carry a coupon rate of 8% per annum, payable semi-annually until such a time as they are repaid or converted in accordance with their terms. These notes are classified as current at the year end.In December 2014 the Company issued a further £1,100,000 of convertible loan notes of which £800,000 were issued to substantial shareholders. These loan notes are redeemable at par on maturity or convertible to ordinary shares at 3p per ordinary share on or before maturing on 3 December 2019 and carry a coupon rate of 8% per annum payable semi-annually until such time as they are repaid or converted.On 22 June 2015 the Company issued £1,818,000 non-convertible loan notes of which £1,800,000 were issued to substantial shareholders as per the table above. The loan notes carried an interest rate of 10% for one year rising to 12% thereafter. Interest is payable quarterly in arrears. The loans notes are fully repayable in five years.On 22 April 2016, the Company repaid £900,000 of non-convertible loan notes held by Kestrel Partners LLP.Elderstreet VCT plc is an AIM listed venture capital trust of which M Jackson is a non-executive director and he is also a director of Elderstreet Investments Ltd, the manager to Elderstreet VCT plc.DividendsDue to the significant and ongoing investment in developing our products, the directors do not propose a dividend in respect of the year ended 30 November 2016 (2015: £Nil).Research & development and other technical expenditureThroughout 2016 we have continued to invest in developing our products. The Group engaged an average of 66 (2015: 72) technical staff who both support the existing product offering as well as developing it. In 2016, £3,010,000 (2015: £3,448,000) was spent across the Group on research and development and other technical expenditure. Of  this £522,000 (2015: £1,533,000) was capitalised and the balance was expensed through the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.Further detail of research & development activity incurred by Group companies is set out in the Strategic Report on pages 10 to 29.Our policy is to write development expenditure off to profit or loss as incurred unless it relates to a new product that is yet to be launched or relates to fundamental innovations that meet accounting definitions in that they are technically feasible, commercially viable and resources exist to complete the development projects. In such cases the expenditure is capitalised and amortised over five years beginning with the first sale. This reflects the estimated useful life taking into account the more flexible, structured code using latest modular design techniques available.35

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCEmployee relationsThe Group supports the employment of disabled people, wherever possible, both when recruiting and by retention of those who become disabled during their employment.Appropriate steps are taken to inform and consult employees regarding matters affecting them and the Group.The Group’s policy regarding health and safety is to ensure that, as far as is practical, there is a working environment which will minimise the risk to the health and safety of its employees and those persons who are authorised to be on its premises.The Group encourages staff progression and is introducing more formal training and development of key staff across the Group. Individual job related training is provided if needed and it is incumbent upon all managers to find time to mentor and develop their own staff.The Group’s remuneration policies are driven locally at subsidiary level to reflect circumstances prevailing in their local labour markets. Our sales teams earn sales commission on top of a competitive basic salary based on their individual targets and incentives for all staff are encouraged. Directors’ remuneration is determined by the remuneration committee, details of which are included in note 8.Financial risk management and exposure to financial riskThe directors’ management of and policies in relation to price risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and cash flow risk are explained in detail in the Strategic Report.EnvironmentThe Group’s policy with regard to the environment is to ensure that we understand and effectively manage the actual and potential environmental impact of our activities. Our operations are conducted such that we comply with all legal requirements regarding the environment in all areas where we carry out our business. During the period covered by this report the Group has not incurred any fines or penalties or been investigated for any breach of environmental regulations.Social responsibilityThe Group has made certain small donations during the year supporting local charities, individually each donation and in aggregate being less than £2,000. We encourage our staff to raise money for charities by supporting their endeavours both as a company or the directors individually. No political donations were made during the year (2015: £Nil).Going concernThe Strategic Report and opening pages to the annual report discuss Access Intelligence’s business activities and headline results, together with our financial statements and notes which detail the results for the year, net current liability position, cash flows for the year ended 30 November 2016 and the extension of the maturity of the convertible loan notes. The Board has further considered 12 month cash flow forecasts from the date of signing the accounts and consider the assumptions used therein to be reasonable and reflective of the long-term ‘software as a service’ contracts and contracted recurring revenue.36

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCThe company has Convertible Loan Notes of £1,250,000 maturing in December 2017 held by two major shareholders, £500,000 by Elderstreet VCT (a company related to Chairman Michael Jackson) and £750,000 by Unicorn AIM VCT plc.  These Convertible Loan Notes originally matured on or before 30 June 2015 however the holders have extended them on a number of occasions to 31 December 2015, 31 December 2016 and in December 2016 the holders agreed to extend them to 31 December 2017. The Board expects these holders to extend again in December 2017 if required to do so.  The Board has concluded that they have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.Events after the reporting dateIn December 2016, the Company agreed terms to extend the convertible loan notes issued in June 2009 such that they mature on 31 December 2017, with interest at 8% during this extended period and conversion rights unchanged at 4p per share.On 14 March 2017, Access Intelligence Plc transferred the trade and assets of its branch AIControlPoint to its subsidiary company formed during the year, AIControlPoint Limited. On 16 March 2017, Access Intelligence Plc disposed of 100% of the issued share capital of AIControlPoint Limited for a consideration totalling £782,000. Group profit on disposal of the subsidiary was £588,000 and Company profit on disposal was £639,000. Share capitalDetails of the Company’s share capital are set out in note 24 to the financial statements.Share option planThe Company administers one approved option scheme called the “Access Intelligence plc Management Incentive Scheme”. The scheme was adopted at the AGM held on 22 April 2009 and is open to any eligible employee selected at the discretion of the Board. The scheme period will extend for 10 years from the adoption date. The scheme rules are available at the Company’s registered office. Details of the movement in options during the year are in note 25. In total, no options were granted in the year, 8,808,103 were exercised and 797,500 were forfeited.Indemnity of directorsThe Company has an indemnity policy which benefits all of its current directors and is a qualifying third party indemnity provision for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006. The indemnification was in force during the year and at the date of approval of the financial statements.Statement of directors’ responsibilitiesThe directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic Report, the Directors’ Report and the Group and Company financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under AIM rules the directors are required to prepare Group financial statements in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU.37

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCThe Group financial statements are required by law and IFRS as adopted by the EU to present fairly the financial position and the performance of the Group. The Companies Act 2006 provides in relation to such financial statements that references in the relevant part of that Act to financial statements giving a true and fair view are references to their achieving a fair presentation.The Company financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company.In preparing those financial statements, the directors are required to:• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;• for the Group financial statements, state whether they have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU;• for the Company financial statements, state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the Company financial statements;• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group and the Company will continue in business; and• provide additional disclosures when compliance with specific requirements in IFRS is insufficient to enable users to understand the impact of particular transactions, other events and conditions, on the Group’s and the Company’s financial position and financial performance. The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Group and the Company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with  the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for systems of internal control, for safeguarding the assets of the Group and the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.The directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Group’s and the Company’s website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.Statement as to disclosure of information to auditorIn so far as the directors are aware:• there is no relevant audit information of which the Group’s and the Company’s auditor is unaware; and• the directors have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information. AuditorMazars LLP has acted as auditor throughout the period and, in accordance with section 489 of the Companies Act 2006 a resolution to reappoint Mazars LLP will be put to the members at the forthcoming annual general meeting.By order of the BoardJ ArnoldDirectorApproved by the directors on 28 April 201738

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCCorporate GovernanceApplication of the principles of good governanceAs an AIM company, the Group is not required by the Financial Conduct Authority Listing Rules to follow the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code. Nevertheless, the Group is committed to applying the principles of corporate governance commensurate with its size.The BoardAt 30 November 2016, the Board consisted of three non-executive directors and one executive director, being the Chief Executive Officer. These Board members retain responsibility for the formulation of corporate strategy, approval of acquisitions, divestments and major capital expenditure and treasury policy. The appointment of new directors is a matter reserved for the Board as a whole rather than for a separate nomination committee.The executive director is responsible for operational matters and executing agreed strategic decisions.The Board meets monthly and has a schedule of matters specifically referred to it for decision. All directors have access to advice from the company secretary and training is available for directors as necessary.Each member of the Board comes up for re-election by the shareholders at annual general meetings every three years by rotation.The non-executive directors are not involved in the day-to-day running of the business. Shareholdings of all directors can be found in the Directors’ Report.Internal controlThe directors have overall responsibility for ensuring that the Group maintains a system of internal control to provide them with reasonable assurance regarding effective and efficient operations, internal financial control and compliance with laws and regulations.The risk management process and systems of internal control are designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk  of failure to achieve the Group’s strategic objectives. However, there are inherent limitations in any system of internal control and accordingly even the most effective system can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance. The Board has reviewed the operation and effectiveness of the system of internal control in operation during the period.The Board is also responsible for assessing and minimising all business risks, supported by group personnel able to provide specific assistance in matters relating to regulatory compliance, health and safety, environment, quality systems and insurance cover for property and liability risks.Monthly accounts, with commentary on current year performance compared with planned performance, together with analysis and working capital information, are prepared in accordance with group accounting policies and principles. They are consolidated and reviewed by the Board in order to monitor overall performance and trigger appropriate management intervention where applicable.The Board monitors the funding requirements and banking facilities provided to the Group in addition to the management of investment and treasury procedures. Capital and significant investment expenditure is approved against performance criteria.The Board has considered the need for an internal audit function but has concluded that the size of the Group does not justify the expense at present. The need for an internal audit function will continue to be reviewed periodically.39

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCAudit committeeThe audit committee is appointed by the Board and must comprise a minimum of two members, including one non- executive director. D Lowe chairs the audit committee with M Jackson and J Arnold as the other members. The committee met on two occasions in 2016 (2015: two).The audit committee may examine any matters relating to the financial affairs of the Group. This includes reviews of the annual accounts and announcements, internal control procedures, accounting policies, compliance with accounting standards, the appointment of external auditors and other such related functions as the Board may require. Remuneration committeeThe remuneration committee consists of C Pilling, M Jackson and J Arnold and is chaired by C Pilling. The committee’s aim is to ensure that the executive director is rewarded for her contribution to the Group and is motivated to enhance the return to shareholders. The remuneration committee is responsible for reviewing the performance of the directors and setting their remuneration, and meets on an “as required” basis. The remuneration committee has regard to rates of pay for similar positions in comparable companies as well as internal factors such as performance. The objective of the Company’s remuneration policy is to ensure that members of the executive management are provided with appropriate incentives to encourage enhanced performance and are, in a fair and responsible manner, rewarded for their individual contributions to the success of the Company.The directors are eligible for share options under the Company’s share option scheme. The exercise of options granted under this share option scheme is not dependent on performance criteria.Full details of directors’ remuneration are given in note 8 to the financial statements.Nominations committeeThe Group has not appointed a nominations committee. The Board has concluded that given the size of the Group this function can be effectively carried out by the whole Board.40

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCIndependent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Access Intelligence PlcWe have audited the financial statements of Access Intelligence Plc for the year ended 30 November 2016 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow, the Company Balance Sheet and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the Group financial statements is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the Parent Company financial statements is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland”.Respective responsibilities of directors and auditorAs explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities set out on pages 36 and 37, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view.Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors. This report is made solely to the Company’s members as a body in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company’s members as a body for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.Scope of the audit of the financial statementsA description of the scope of an audit of financial statements is provided on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditscopeukprivate.Opinion on the financial statementsIn our opinion:• the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 30 November 2016 and of the Group’s loss for the year then ended;• the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union;• the Parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland”; and• the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006In our opinion the information given in the Strategic Report and Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.41

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCIndependent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Access Intelligence Plc (Continued)Matters on which we are required to report by exceptionWe have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:• adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Parent Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or• the Parent Company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or• certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or• we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.William Neale Bussey (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Mazars LLPChartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor Tower Bridge HouseSt Katharine’s Way LondonE1W 1DD 28 April 2017Consolidated 
Statement of 
Comprehensive 
Income

Year ended 30 November 2016

42

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

The notes on pages 52 to 95 form part of these financial statements.

43

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCNote2016 £’0002015 (restated) £’000Revenue39,5986,687Cost of sales(4,241)(1,881)Gross profit5,3574,806Administrative expenses(8,295)(6,321)Share of loss of associate(91)-Share-based payment25(13)(26)Operating loss before impairment(3,042)(1,541)Impairment of intangibles14-(30) Operating loss5(3,042)(1,571)Financial income9-1Financial expense10(395)(266)Loss before taxation(3,437)(1,836)Taxation (charge)/credit 11(37)527Loss for the year from continuing operations(3,474)(1,309)Profit/(loss) for the year from discontinued operations61,511(1,934)Loss for the year(1,963)(3,243)Other comprehensive income--Total comprehensive income for the period attributable to the owners of the Parent Company(1,963)(3,243)Earnings per shareContinuing Operations 2016Continuing Operations 2015 (restated)Basic loss per share13(1.10)p(0.52)pDiluted loss per share13(1.10)p(0.52)pContinuing and   Discontinued Operations 2016 £’000Continuing and   Discontinued Operations 2015 £’000Basic loss per share13(0.62)p(1.28)pDiluted loss per share13(0.62)p(1.28)pConsolidated  
Statement of  
Financial Position

At 30 November 2016

44

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

The consolidated financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of directors 
on 28 April 2017 and signed on its behalf by

J Arnold
Director

The notes on pages 52 to 95 form part of these financial statements.

45

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCNote2016 £’0002015 £’000Non-current assetsProperty, plant and equipment16100273Intangible assets147,0627,423Investments in associates15534-Deferred tax assets23230865Total non-current assets7,9268,561Current assetsTrade and other receivables172,5653,628Current tax receivables436101Cash and cash equivalents261,1621,523Assets classified as held for sale73813,869Total current assets4,5449,121Total assets12,47017,682Current liabilitiesTrade and other payables191,3011,225Accruals9411,625Provisions2727130Deferred revenue203,7724,643Interest bearing loans and borrowings181,3741,277Liabilities classified as held for sale75071,455Total current liabilities7,92210,355Non-current liabilitiesProvisions27374391Interest bearing loans and borrowings181,9012,839Deferred tax liabilities23230336Total non-current liabilities2,5053,566Total liabilities10,42713,921Net assets2,0433,761EquityShare capital241,5801,535Treasury shares(148)(148)Share premium account1,4581,271Capital redemption reserve191191Share option reserve377364Equity reserve255255Retained earnings(1,670)293Total equity attributable to the equity holders of the Parent Company2,0433,761Consolidated  
Statement of  
Changes in Equity

Year ended 30 November 2016

46

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

47

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCShare capital £’000Treasury shares £’000Share premium account £’000Capital redemption reserve £’000Share option reserve £’000Equity reserve £’000Retained earnings £’000Total £’000GroupAt 1 December 20141,324(148)2241913381263,5365,591Total comprehensive loss for the year------(3,243)(3,243)Equity component of convertible loan notes net of deferred tax-----129-129Transactions with ownersIssue of share capital211-1,047----1,258Share-based payments----26--26At 1 December 20151,535(148)1,2711913642552933,761Total comprehensive loss for the year------(1,963)(1,963)Transactions with ownersIssue of share capital45-187----232Share-based payments----13--13At 30 November 20161,580(148)1,458191377255(1,670)2,04348

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCShare capital and share premium accountWhen shares are issued, the nominal value of the shares is credited to the share capital reserve. Any premium paid above the nominal value is taken to the share premium account. Access Intelligence plc shares have a nominal value of 0.5p per share. Directly attributable transaction costs associated with the issue of equity investments are accounted for as a reduction from the share premium account.Treasury sharesThe returned shares are now held in treasury and attract no voting rights. The return of shares has been accounted for in accordance with IAS 32 ‘Financial instruments: Presentation’ such that the instruments have been deducted from equity with no gain or loss recognised in profit or loss.Share option reserveThis reserve arises as a result of amounts being recognised in the income statement relating to share-based payment transactions granted under the Group’s share option scheme. The reserve will fall as share options vest and are exercised over the life of the options.Capital redemption reserveThis reserve arises as a result of keeping with the doctrine of capital maintenance when the Company purchases and redeems its own shares. The amounts transferred into/out from this reserve from a purchase/redemption is equal to the amount by which share capital has been reduced/increased, when the purchase/redemption has been financed wholly out of distributable profits, and is the amount by which the nominal value exceeds the proceeds of any new issue of share capital, when the purchase/redemption has been financed partly out of distributable profits.Equity reserveThe equity reserve arises as a result of the equity component that has been recognised on the convertible loan notes that have been issued by the Group (see the ‘Interest bearing loans and borrowings’ note). The reserve is determined by deducting the amount of the liability component from the fair value of the convertible loan notes as a whole, net of income tax effects and the relative proportion of the directly attributable transaction costs associated with the issue of the compound instruments.Retained earningsThe retained earnings reserve records the accumulated profits and losses of the Group since inception of the business. Where subsidiary undertakings are acquired, only profits and losses arising from the date of acquisition are included.13

49

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

Consolidated  
Statement of  
Cash Flow

Year ended 30 November 2016

50

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

The notes on pages 52 to 95 form part of these financial statements.

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

51

Note2016 £’0002015 £’000Loss for the year(1,963)(3,243)Adjusted for:Taxation1164(734)Depreciation and amortisation14,161,078948Impairment of intangible assets14-1,899Share option charge251326Financial income9-(1)Financial expense10395266Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment16-70Share of loss of associate91-Profit on sale of Due North Limited6(1,664)-Profit on sale of AITrackRecord Limited6(585)-Profit on sale of Willow Starcom Limited6-(900)Operating cash outflow before changes in working capital(2,571)(1,669)Decrease/(Increase) in trade and other receivables934(496)Decrease in inventories-8(Decrease)/Increase in trade and other payables(1,228)345Net cash outflow from operations before taxation(2,865)(1,812)Taxation received-237Net cash outflow from operations(2,865)(1,575)Cash flows from investingInterest received9-1Acquisition of property, plant and equipment and software licences16(17)(66)Cost of software development14(579)(1,541)Acquisition of trade and assets-(1,340)Disposal of Due North Limited (net of expenses)64,030-less: cash and cash equivalents disposed of677-Disposal of AITrackRecord Limited (net of expenses)67-less: cash and cash equivalents disposed of6(10)-Disposal of Willow Starcom Limited (net of expenses)6-1,487less: cash and cash equivalents disposed of6-(346)Move to held for sale of Due North Limited-(207)Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing3,508(2,011)Cash flows from financing activitiesInterest paid(336)(192)Issue of shares-1,200Exercise of share options2523258(Repayment)/issue of loan notes18(900)2,900Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing(1,004)3,966Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents26(361)379Opening cash and cash equivalents261,5231,144Closing cash and cash equivalents261,1621,523Notes to the 
Consolidated 
Statements

52

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

1. General Information

Access  Intelligence  Plc  (‘the  Company’)  and  its  subsidiaries  (together  the  ‘Group’)  provide  software  for 
companies looking to build, maintain and protect their reputation through communications management.

The Company is a public limited company under the Companies Act 2006 and is listed on the AIM market 
of the London Stock Exchange and is incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The address of the Company’s 
registered office is provided in the Directors and Advisers page of this Annual Report.

2. Accounting policies

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below.  
These policies have been applied consistently to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Basis of preparation 

These financial statements have been prepared in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards  (‘IFRS’s’)  as  adopted  by  the  European 
Union,  and  with  those  parts  of  the  Companies 
Acts  applicable  to  companies  reporting  under 
IFRS.  The  consolidated  financial  statements 
have  been  prepared  under  the  historical  cost 
convention and on a going concern basis.
The  preparation  of  financial  statements 
in 
conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain 
critical  accounting  estimates.  It  also  requires 
management  to  exercise  its  judgement  in  the 
process  of  applying  the  Group’s  accounting 
policies.

These Convertible Loan Notes originally matured 
on  or  before  30 June  2015  however the  holders 
have  extended them  on  a  number  of  occasions 
to  31  December  2015,  31  December  2016  and  in 
December  2016  the  holders  agreed  to  extend 
them  to  31  December  2017.  The  Board  expects 
these holders to extend again in December 2017 if 
required to do so.  

The  Board  has  concluded  that  they  have  a 
reasonable  expectation  that  the  Company  and 
the  Group  have  adequate  resources to  continue 
in  operational  existence  for  the  foreseeable 
future.  For  this  reason,  they  continue  to  adopt 
the going concern basis in preparing the financial 
statements.

Going concern

Significant judgements

The  Strategic  Report  and  opening  pages  to 
the  annual  report  discuss  Access  Intelligence’s 
business activities and headline results, together 
with  our  financial  statements  and  notes  which 
detail the results for the year, net current liability 
position,  cash  flows  for  the  year  ended  30 
November 2016 and the extension of the maturity 
of the convertible loan notes. The Board has further 
considered  12  month  cash  flow  forecasts  from 
the date of signing the accounts and consider the 
assumptions  used therein to be reasonable  and 
reflective of the long-term ‘software as a service’ 
contracts and contracted recurring revenue.

The  company  has  Convertible  Loan  Notes  of 
£1,250,000  maturing  in  December  2017  held  by 
two major shareholders, £500,000 by Elderstreet 
VCT  (a  company  related  to  Chairman  Michael 
Jackson) and £750,000 by Unicorn AIM VCT plc.  

53

In addition to going concern, the areas involving a 
high degree of judgement or complexity relate to:
• the recognition of deferred tax assets in relation 
to losses (refer to note 23); and
• the recoverability of trade receivables currently 
provided for (refer to note 17).

Significant estimates

Further  to  the  significant  judgements  above  the 
areas where key assumptions and estimates have 
been made by management relate to:
•  the 
impairment  testing  of  goodwill  and 
capitalised  development  costs  and  other  non-
current assets, (refer to note 14); and
• the charge for share-based payment transactions 
which  include  assumptions  on  future  share 
prices  movements,  expected  future  dividends, 
and risk-free discount rates (refer to note 25).

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
54

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCNew standards and interpretationsThe following standards, amendments and interpretations to published standards, have been adopted during the year.‘Disclosure initiative’ - Amendment to IAS 1 (Issued December 2014)‘Clarification of acceptable methods of depreciation and amortisation’ - Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 38 (Issued May 2014)‘Agriculture: Bearer plants’ - Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 41 (Issued June 2014)‘Defined benefit plans: Employee contributions’ - Amendment to IAS 19 (Issued November 2013)‘Equity method in separate financial statements’ - Amendment to IAS 27 (Issued August 2014)‘Investment entities: Applying the consolidation exception’ - Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and IAS 28 (Issued December 2014)‘Accounting for acquisitions of interests in joint operations’ - Amendment to IFRS 11 (Issued May 2014)Improvements to IFRSs 2010 - 2012 cycle (Issued December 2013)Improvements to IFRSs 2012 - 2014 cycle (Issued September 2014)There has been no impact of adopting the above standards, amendments and interpretations.New standards issued but not yet effectiveStandards issued but not yet effective up to the date of issuance of the Company’s financial statements are listed below. The listing is of standards and interpretations issued, which the Company reasonably expects to be applicable at a future date. The Company does not intend to adopt those standards until they become effective.The group has not yet adopted IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’ (Issued May 2014) and Clarifications to IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’ (Issued April 2016). The directors do not expect a material impact from preliminary assessment of the implementation of IFRS15, however a more thorough review of the impact of the standard will be performed ahead of the next financial reporting period. The standard is effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018.Effective for November 2017 financial statements‘Disclosure initiative’ - Amendment to IAS 7 (Issued January 2016)‘Recognition of deferred tax assets for unrealised losses’ - Amendment to IAS 12 (Issued  January 2016)Improvements to IFRSs 2014 - 2016 cycle (Issued December 2016)Effective for November 2018 financial statements‘Transfers of investment property’ - Amendment to IAS 40 (Issued December 2016)‘Classification and measurement of share-based payment transactions’ - Amendment to IFRS 2 (Issued June 2016)  55

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCIFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’ (Issued July 2014) ‘Applying IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’ with IFRS 4 ‘Insurance Contracts’’ - Amendment to IFRS 4 (Issued September 2016)Clarifications to IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’ (Issued April 2016)Improvements to IFRSs 2014 - 2016 cycle (Issued December 2016)IFRIC 22 ‘Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration’ (Issued December 2016)Effective for November 2019 financial statementsIFRS 16 ‘Leases’ (issued January 2016)Basis of consolidationThe Group financial statements comprise the financial statements of the Company and all of its subsidiary undertakings made up to the financial year end. Subsidiaries are entities that are controlled by another entity. Control exists when the Group has the power, directly or indirectly, to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. In assessing control, potential voting rights that are currently exercisable or convertible are taken into account. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases.Adjustments are made where necessary to bring the accounting policies of acquired businesses into alignment with those of the Group.Subsidiaries are included within the consolidation where the Company has control over such entities, thereby having the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity. The results of subsidiary undertakings acquired or disposed of in the year are included in the Group statement of comprehensive income from the effective date of acquisition or to the effective date of disposal. Accounting policies are consistently applied throughout the Group. Inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated. Material profits from inter-company sales, to the extent that they are not yet realised outside the Group, have also been eliminated.Associates are all entities over which the Group has significant influence but not control or joint control. This is generally the case where the Group holds between 20% and 50% of the voting rights. Investments in associates are accounted for using the equity method of accounting after initially being recognised at cost.Under the equity method of accounting, the Group’s investments in associates are initially recognised at cost and adjusted thereafter to recognise the Group’s share of the post-acquisition profits or losses of the investee in profit or loss, and the Group’s share of movements in other comprehensive income of the investee in other comprehensive income. Dividends received or receivable from associates are recognised as a reduction in the carrying amount of the investment.When the Group’s share of losses in an equity-accounted investment equals or exceeds its interest in the entity, including any other unsecured long-term receivables, the Group does not recognise further losses unless it has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the other entity.Unrealised gains on transactions between the Group and its associates are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s interest in these entities. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred. Accounting policies of equity accounted investees have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.56

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCDisposal groups held for saleThe Group classifies assets and liabilities as held for sale once they are available for sale in their present condition and the sale satisfies the criteria to be highly probable. The held for sale classification applies to a group of assets and liabilities directly associated with those assets, to be disposed of in a single transaction. Disposal groups classified as held for sale are carried at the lower of the carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell. Assets that form part of disposal groups classified as held for sale are not depreciated or amortised. Discontinued operationsThe group classifies an operation as discontinued from the earlier of the date the operation meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale or the date the group disposes of the operation. Results of discontinued operations are shown separately in the statement of comprehensive income. Prior periods are re-presented so that the presentation relates to all periods for operations that have been discontinued by the end of the current reporting period.Property, plant and equipmentProperty, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses.Depreciation is charged to the income statement on both a straight-line and reducing balance basis over the estimated useful lives of fixtures, fittings and equipment taking into account any estimated residual value. The estimated useful lives are as follows:Fixtures, fittings and equipment - 3 - 5 years Leasehold improvements - over lease termIntangible assets - GoodwillGoodwill represents amounts arising on acquisition of subsidiaries. Goodwill represents the difference between the cost of the acquisition and the fair value of the net identifiable assets and contingent liabilities acquired. Identifiable intangible assets are those which can be sold separately or which arise from legal rights regardless of whether those rights are separable. Goodwill on acquisition of subsidiaries is included in intangible assets. Goodwill is allocated to cash generating units and is not amortised, but is tested annually for impairment.In respect of acquisitions prior to 1 December 2006, goodwill is included at 1 December 2006 on the basis of its deemed cost, which represents the amount recorded under UK GAAP which was broadly comparable save that only separable intangibles were recognised and goodwill was amortised. On transition, amortisation of goodwill has ceased.Intangible assets - Research and development expenditureResearch costs are expensed as incurred. Development expenditures on an individual project are recognised as an intangible asset when the Group can demonstrate:• the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that the asset will be available for use or sale• its intention to complete and its ability and intention to use or sell the asset;• how the asset will generate future economic benefits;• the availability of resources to complete the asset; and• the ability to measure reliably the expenditure during development.Following initial recognition of the development expenditure as an asset, the asset is carried at cost less any accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.57

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCAmortisation of the asset begins from the date development is complete and the asset is available for use, which may be before first sale. It is amortised over the period of expected future benefit. Amortisation is recorded in administration expenses. During the period of development, the asset is tested for impairment annually. In 2016 there were two (2015: five) capitalised development projects. These projects both related to the development of new functionality within the Vuelio platform. The directors assessed the capitalisation criteria of its internally generated material intangible assets through review of the output of the work performed, the specific costs proposed for capitalisation, the likely completion of the work and the likely future benefits to be generated from the work. The directors assess the useful life of the completed capitalised development projects to be five years from the date of the first sale or when benefits begin to be realised and amortisation will begin at that time.Intangible assets - DatabaseOn acquisition of the business and certain assets of Cision UK Ltd and Vocus UK Ltd, a fair value was calculated in respect of the PR and media contacts database acquired. Subsequent expenditure on maintaining this database is expensed as incurred. Amortisation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful economic life of the database. It is the directors’ view that this useful economic life is three years based on the level of ongoing investment required to maintain the quality of data in the database.Intangible assets - Customer relationshipsOn acquisition of the business and certain assets of Cision UK Ltd and Vocus UK Ltd, a fair value was calculated in respect of the customer relationships acquired. Amortisation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful economic life of the customer relationships. It is the directors’ view that this useful economic life is five years, based on known and forecast customer retention rates. Intangible assets - Brand valueAcquired brands, which are controlled through custody or legal rights and could be sold separately from the rest of the Group’s businesses, are capitalised where fair value can be reliably measured. The Group applies a 20-year straight line amortisation policy on all brand values. The brand equity in each case has been built up over a 5-10-year period addressing the needs of two large global markets that have yet to reach maturity. In the event that the developed world became saturated it is the directors’ view that the developing world will soon find a need for such products. The conclusion is that a realistic life for the brand equity would be a ‘generation’ or 20 years. Where there is an indication of impairment, the directors will perform an impairment review by analysing the future discounted cash flows over the remaining life of the brand asset to determine whether impairment is required.Software licencesSoftware licences include software that is not integral to a related item of hardware. These items are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and any impairment. Amortisation is calculated on a straight line basis over the estimated useful economic life. Although perpetual licences are maintained under support and maintenance agreements, a useful economic life of five years has been determined.Impairment of non-financial assetsThe carrying amounts of the Group’s assets other than deferred tax assets, are reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated based upon the value in use.For goodwill, assets that have an indefinite useful life and intangible assets that are not yet available for use, the recoverable amount is estimated at each reporting date. The recoverable amount is the higher of the fair value less costs to sell and value in use of the cash generating unit containing the goodwill or intangible assets with an indefinite useful life.58

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCAn impairment loss is recognised whenever the carrying amount of an asset or its cash-generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognised in the income statement.Impairment losses recognised in respect of cash-generating units are allocated first to the carrying amount of the goodwill allocated to that cash-generating unit and then to the carrying amount of the other assets in the unit on a pro rata basis, applied in priority to non-current assets ahead of more liquid items. A cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.Reversals of impairmentAn impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed. In respect of other assets, an impairment loss is reversed when there is an indication that the impairment loss may no longer exist and there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortisation, if no impairment loss had been recognised.Financial instrumentsFinancial instruments comprise trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents, loans and borrowings, trade and other payables and other financial liabilities.Financial instruments are recognised initially at fair value plus, for instruments not at fair value through profit or loss, any directly attributable transaction costs, except as described below. Subsequent to initial recognition financial instruments are measured as described below.A financial instrument is recognised if the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assets are derecognised if the Group’s contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial assets expire or if the Group transfers the financial asset to another party without retaining control of substantially all risks and rewards of the asset. Financial liabilities are derecognised if the Group’s obligations specified in the contract expire or are discharged or are cancelled. Trade and other receivables are recorded initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost, using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. Specific impairment provisions are made when management consider the debtor irrecoverable and these are charged to the income statement. Trade and other payables are recorded initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost, using the effective interest method. Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, and other short term highly liquid investments.Loans and borrowings and other financial liabilities, which include the convertible redeemable loan notes, are initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. Interest expense is measured on an effective yield basis and recognised in the income statement over the relevant period.Issue costs are apportioned between the liability and equity components of the convertible loan notes based upon their relative carrying amounts at the date of issue. The portion relating to the equity component is recognised in equity. Finance payments associated with financial liabilities are dealt with as part of finance expenses.The Group may enter into derivative financial instruments for risk management purposes. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date the derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value with gains and losses recognised through profit or loss. The Group does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.59

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCConvertible loan notesThe component parts of compound instruments issued by the Group are classified separately as financial liabilities  and equity in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangement. At the date of issue, in the case of a convertible loan note denominated in the functional currency of the issuer that may be converted into a fixed number  of equity shares, the fair value of the liability component is estimated at the present value of the stream of future cash flows (including both coupon payments and redemption) discounted at the market rate of interest that would have been applied to an instrument of comparable credit quality with substantially the same cash flows, on the same terms, but without the conversion option. This amount is recorded as a liability on an amortised cost basis using the effective interest method until extinguished upon conversion or at the instrument’s maturity date. Non-substantial modifications are accounted for by amortising any adjustment to the carrying amount of the liability over the remaining term of the modified liability.The equity component is determined by deducting the amount of the liability component and deferred tax liability from the fair value of the compound instrument as a whole. This is recognised and included in equity, and is not subsequently re-measured.ProvisionsProvisions are recognised when there is a present obligation (legal or constructive) as  a result of a past event, it is probable that the obligation will be required to be settled, and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the end of the reporting period, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Provisions are discounted when the time value of money is material.Current and deferred income taxThe tax expense for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the income statement except to the extent that it relates to items recognised directly in equity, in which case it is recognised in equity.Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. The following temporary differences are not provided for: the initial recognition of goodwill; the initial recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit other than in a business combination, and differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to the extent that they will probably not reverse in the foreseeable future. The amount of deferred tax provided is based on the expected manner of realisation or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date. The recognition of deferred tax assets is based upon whether it is more likely than not that sufficient and suitable taxable profits will be available in the future, against which the reversal of temporary differences can be deducted. Recognition, therefore, involves judgement regarding the future financial performance of the particular legal entity or tax group in which the deferred tax asset has been recognised.Historical differences between forecast and actual taxable profits have not resulted in material adjustments to the recognition of deferred tax assets.60

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCShare-based paymentsThe Group issues equity-settled share-based payments to certain employees. These equity-settled share-based payments are measured at fair-value at the date of the grant. Where material, the fair value as determined at the grant date is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of shares that will eventually vest.Fair value is measured by use of the Black–Scholes method. The charges to profit or loss rest in the subsidiary employing the executive concerned.Employee benefitsIndividual subsidiaries of the Group operate defined contribution pension schemes for their employees. The assets of the schemes are not managed by the Group and are held separately from those of the Group. The annual contributions payable are charged to the income statement when they fall due for payment.RevenueRevenue represents the amounts derived from the provision of goods and services, stated net of Value Added Tax. The methodology applied to income recognition is dependent upon the goods or services being supplied.Revenues from the delivery of infrastructure (i.e. goods) are recognised on installation when the risks and rewards of ownership have transferred to the customer. Associated training and consultancy fees (i.e. services) are recognised when specified contractual milestones are met or on project completion. In the event that these services are invoiced in advance they will be credited to deferred revenue and released to the comprehensive income statement once delivered. The revenue recognised on delivery and installation of infrastructure is the amount stated in the contract for such services. The contractual fee for the delivery and installation of infrastructure is calculated separately to fees for associated licensing arrangements based on fair value. For infrastructure, this is measured using third party cost plus an appropriate profit margin basis in accordance with our business model. The professional services element for installation would be provided to the customer on a time and materials basis. The directors consider that the cost of providing the service (i.e. the third party costs) plus an appropriate profit margin represents an approximation  of the fair value of the service provided.In respect of income relating to annual or multi-year service contracts and/or hosted services which are invoiced in advance, it is the Group’s policy to recognise revenue on a straight line basis over the period of the contract. The full value of each sale is credited to deferred revenue when invoiced to be released to the statement of comprehensive income in equal instalments over the contract period.During the course of a customer’s relationship with the Group, their system may be upgraded. These upgrades can be separated into two distinct types:• Specific upgrades, i.e. moving from an old legacy system to one of the Group’s latest products. This would require the migration of the customer’s data from the old system and the set-up of their new system; and• Non-specific upgrades, i.e. enhancements to customers’ systems as a result of internal development effort to improve the stability or functionality of the platform for all customers.Customers do not have a contractual right to non-specific upgrades. For specific upgrades, customers are required to separately purchase these through signing a new contract which sets out the one-off professional services fee for the upgrade to cover migration costs and any increase in their annual licence fee.61

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCDifferent accounting treatment is applied to specific and non-specific upgrades due to the differing obligations and performance of the Group. No additional amounts are charged to customers for non-specific upgrades as these are provided to all customers without obligation. Specific upgrades are completed on an individual customer basis and are contracted for separately with additional fees.The Group does not have any further obligations that it would have to provide for under the licensing arrangements. Operating lease paymentsPayments made under operating leases are recognised in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Lease incentives received are recognised in the income statement as an integral part of the total lease expense.Finance income and finance expensesFinance income and finance expenses are recognised in profit or loss as they accrue, using the effective interest method. Finance income relates to interest income on the Group’s bank account balances.Interest payable comprises interest payable or finance charges on loans classified as liabilities.In relation to interest relating to the convertible redeemable loan notes, the charge to profit or loss is an ‘effective interest charge’ over the period as opposed to the actual interest paid or payable. The effective interest charge is higher than the actual interest paid.Dividend distributionsDividend distributions are recognised as transactions with owners on payment.Foreign exchangeThe individual financial statements of each Group company are presented in the currency of the primary economic environment in which it operates (its functional currency). The results and financial position of each Group company are expressed in pounds sterling, which is the functional currency of the Company, and the presentation currency for the consolidated financial statements.In preparing the financial statements of the individual companies, transactions in currencies other than the entity’s functional currency (foreign currencies) are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. At each reporting date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing at that date. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated.Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items, and on the retranslation of monetary items, are included in profit or loss for the year.13

62

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

.

m
o
c
e
c
n
e
g
i
l
l
e
t
n
i
s
s
e
c
c
a
w
w
w

.

63

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC3. RevenueThe Group’s revenue is primarily derived from the rendering of services with the value of sales of goods or delivery of infrastructure not being significant in relation to total Group revenue.The Group’s revenue was split into the following territories:Continuing Operations 2016 £’000Continuing Operations 2015 £’000United Kingdom8,4846,067European Union390234Rest of the world7243869,5986,6874. Segment reportingSegment information is presented in respect of the Group’s operating segments which are based upon the Group’s management and internal business reporting.Inter-segment pricing is determined on an arm’s length basis.Segment results, assets and liabilities include items directly attributable to a segment as well as those that can be allocated on a reasonable basis. Unallocated items comprise mainly head office expenses.Segment non-current asset additions show the amounts relating to property, plant and equipment and intangible assets including goodwill. All non-current assets are located in the UK.Operating segmentsThe Group operating segments have been decided upon according to their revenue model and product or service offering being the information provided to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board. The Reputation and Governance, Risk & Compliance segments derive their revenues from software licence sales and support and training revenues. As a result of the Group’s divestments and acquisitions during the year the segments reported have changed to reflect the Board’s focus. The segments are:• Reputation• Governance, Risk & Compliance• Discontinued - Disposals & Held for Sale• Head Officer
o
f

6
1
0
2

n
o
i
t
a
m
r
o
f
n

i

t
n
e
m
g
e
s

e
h
T

r
e
b
m
e
v
o
N
0
3
d
e
d
n
e

r
a
e
y

e
h
t

:

s
w
o

l
l

o
f

s
a

s

i

,

6
1
0
2

64

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCReputation £’000Governance Risk and Compliance £’000Head office £’000Consolidation adjustment £’000Continuing operations £’000Discontinued Disposals £’000Discontinued Held for sale £’000Consolidations adjustment £’000Discontinued operations £’000Total £’000External revenue9,108490--9,598544789-1,33310,931Operating (loss)/profit(2,784)(41)(432)306(2,951)(714)(16)40(690)(3,641)Share of loss of associate--(91)-(91)---(91)Profit on sale of subsidiary-------2,2282,2282,228Financial income--2,500(2,500)------Financial expense--(395)-(395)----(395)Taxation56(33)(73)13(37)-(27)-(27)(64)(Loss)/profit after taxation(2,728)(74)1,509(2,181)(3,474)(714)(43)2,2681,511(1,963)Reportable segment assets10,0584099,468(7,757)12,178-292-29212,470Reportable segment liabilities12,6482154,747(7,690)9,920-507-50710,427Other information:  Additions to property, plant  and equipment14-4-17----17Depreciation and amortisation1,304554(348)1,015558-631,078 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5
1
0
2

r
o
f

n
o
i
t
a
m
r
o
f
n

i

t
n
e
m
g
e
s

e
h
T

r
e
b
m
e
v
o
N
0
3
d
e
d
n
e

r
a
e
y

e
h
t

:

s
w
o

l
l

o
f

s
a

s

i

,
)

d
e
t
a
t
s
e
r
(

5
1
0
2

65

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCReputation £’000Governance Risk and Compliance £’000Head office £’000Consolidation adjustment £’000Continuing operations £’000Discontinued Disposals £’000Discontinued Held for sale £’000Consolidations adjustment £’000Discontinued operations £’000Total £’000External revenue6,119568--6,6873,441728-4,16910,856Operating (loss)/profit(1,716)(175)760(410)(1,541)(863)(309)-(1,172)(2,712)Profit on sale of subsidiary-------900900900Impairment-(30)--(30)(1,692)(177)-(1,869)(1,899)Financial income--1-1----1Financial expense--(266)-(266)----(266)Taxation401238221527266(59)-207734(Loss)/profit after taxation(1,315)(182)577(389)(1,309)(2,289)(545)900(1,934)(3,243)Reportable segment assets13,39337410,853(11,658)12,9624,555165-4,72017,682Reportable segment liabilities10,9092,1249,630(13,605)9,0583,6761,186-4,86213,921Other information: Additions to property, plant  and equipment12110-2344--4466Depreciation and amortisation57722102(110)59133815-353944 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5. Operating Loss

66

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCOperating loss is stated after charging2016 £’0002015 £’000Depreciation of property, plant and equipment176162Amortisation of development costs218124Amortisation of brand values6060Amortisation of software licences6336Amortisation of database272138Amortisation of customer list22670Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment-70Impairment of intangible assets-30(Profit) on foreign currency translation(6)-Exceptional costs (see below)285260Operating lease charges - land and buildings571574Auditor's remuneration (see below)6285Share based payments1326Research and development and other technical expenditure (income statement) (a further £522,000 (2015: £417,000) was capitalised)1,664650Increase in provision for receivables3946Exceptional costs in the year ended 30 November 2016 were incurred as a result of restructuring and non-recurring one off termination of employment costs for staff and directors, along with associated legal fees. The exceptional costs are made up of the following:2016 £’0002015 £’000Compensation for loss of office - directors -88Compensation and notice payments - all staff285134Legal costs incurred on compensation of loss of office for directors-38285260Auditor’s remuneration is further analysed as:2016 £’0002015 £’000Fees payable to the Company's auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts2527Under-provision for the audit of the Company’s 2014 annual accounts-21The audit of the Company's subsidiaries, pursuant to legislation2728Tax services10962856. Discontinued operations

Due North Limited

In February 2016, the Group sold its subsidiary Due North Limited. This business unit had been reported as 
a discontinued operation and classified as held for sale at 30 November 2015 following the commitment 
of the Group’s management in June 2015 to a plan to sell the entity.

67

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC2016 £’0002015 £’000Results of discontinued operationRevenue2581,793Expenses(308)(1,617)Results from operating activities(50)176Tax-(29)Results from operating activities, net of tax(50)147Gain on sale of discontinued operation1,664-Tax on gain on sale of discontinued operation--Profit for the year1,614147Basic earnings per share0.51p0.06pDiluted earnings per share0.51p0.06p2016 £’0002015 £’000Cash flows from/(used in) discontinued operation Net cash from operating activities403510Net cash used in investing activities(15)(420)Net cash used in financing activities(465)-Net cash flows for the year(77)90The following is a breakdown of the effects of the disposal of Due North Limited on the financial position of the Group:2016 £’000Goodwill412Property, plant and equipment82Intangible assets2,614Trade and other receivables304Cash and cash equivalents130Deferred tax liabilities(432)Trade and other payables(744)Net assets and liabilities2,366Consideration received, satisfied in cash4,500Cash and cash equivalents disposed of130AITrackRecord Limited

In July 2016, the Group sold its subsidiary AITrackRecord Limited. This business unit had not been reported 
as  a  discontinued  operation  or  classified  as  held  for  sale  at  30  November  2015  and  the  comparative 
consolidated  statement  of  comprehensive  income  has  been  re-presented  to  show  the  results  of 
discontinued operations separately from continuing operations.

68

.

m
o
c
e
c
n
e
g
i
l
l
e
t
n
i
s
s
e
c
c
a
w
w
w

.

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC2016 £’0002015 £’000Results of discontinued operationRevenue285704Expenses1,352(3,069)Results from operating activities1,637(2,365)Tax-295Results from operating activities, net of tax1,637(2,070)Gain on sale of discontinued operation585-Tax on gain on sale of discontinued operation--Profit for the year2,222(2,070)Basic earnings per share0.70p(0.82)pDiluted earnings per share0.70p(0.82)p2016 £’0002015 £’000Cash flows from/(used in) discontinued operation Net cash from operating activities(145)652Net cash used in investing activities-(557)Net cash used in financing activities--Net cash flows for the year(145)94The following is a breakdown of the effects of the disposal of AITrackRecord Limited on the financial position of the Group:2016 £’000Property, plant and equipment13Trade and other receivables161Cash and cash equivalents10Deferred tax assets23Trade and other payables(161)Net assets and liabilities46Consideration received, satisfied in shares of TrackRecord Holdings Limited625Consideration received, satisfied in cash101Cash and cash equivalents disposed of10AIControlPoint

AIControlPoint, a branch of Access Intelligence Plc, is presented as a disposal group held for sale following 
the commitment of the Group’s management in 2016, to a plan to sell the business. This business unit 
had not been reported as a discontinued operation or classified as held for sale at 30 November 2015 and 
the comparative consolidated statement of comprehensive income has been re-presented to show the 
results of discontinued operations separately from continuing operations.

69

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC2016 £’0002015 £’000Results of discontinued operationRevenue789728Expenses43(1,214)Results from operating activities833(486)Tax(27)(59)Results from operating activities, net of tax805(545)Gain on sale of discontinued operation--Tax on gain on sale of discontinued operation--Profit for the year805(545)Basic earnings per share0.26p(0.22)pDiluted earnings per share0.26p(0.22)p2016 £’0002015 £’000Cash flows from/(used in) discontinued operation Net cash from operating activities--Net cash used in investing activities--Net cash used in financing activities--Net cash flows for the year--All discontinued operations

The following tables provide combined information for all discontinued operations. The current year figures 
include  the  results  of  Due  North  Limited,  AITrackRecord  Limited  and  AIControlPoint  plus  consolidation 
adjustments. The prior year comparative figures also include the results of Willow Starcom Limited which 
was sold during the year ended 30 November 2015. 

70

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC2016 £’0002015 £’000Results of discontinued operationRevenue1,3334,169Expenses(2,023)(6,310)Results from operating activities(690)(2,141)Tax(27)207Results from operating activities, net of tax(717)(1,935)Gain on sale of discontinued operation2,228-Tax on gain on sale of discontinued operation--Profit/(loss) for the year1,511(1,935)Basic earnings per share0.48p(0.77)pDiluted earnings per share0.48p(0.77)pThe profit/(loss) from discontinued operations of £1,511,000 (2015: loss of £1,935,000) is entirely attributable to the owners of the Company.2016 £’0002015 £’000Cash flows from/(used in) discontinued operation Net cash from operating activities2571,162Net cash used in investing activities(15)(977)Net cash used in financing activities(465)-Net cash flows for the year(222)(185)The following is a breakdown of the effects of the disposal of Due North Limited and AITrackRecord Limited on the financial position of the Group:2016 £’000Goodwill412Property, plant and equipment95Intangible assets2,614Trade and other receivables465Cash and cash equivalents140Deferred tax assets(409)Trade and other payables(905)Net assets and liabilities2,412Consideration received, satisfied in shares of TrackRecord Holdings Limited625Consideration received, satisfied in cash4,601Cash and cash equivalents disposed of1401313

71

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC7.  Disposal group held for sale

AIControlPoint, a branch of the Parent Company is presented as a disposal group held for sale following the 
commitment of the Group’s management in 2016 to a plan to sell the business. Efforts to sell the disposal 
group had therefore commenced before the year end, with the sale being completed on 16 March 2017 
(see note 30). 

At the prior year end, Due North Limited was presented as a disposal group held for sale following the 
commitment of the Group’s management to a plan to sell the entity with the sale being completed on 3 
February 2016 (see note 6).

At 30 November, the disposal group comprised the following assets and liabilities:

Assets classified as held for sale

72

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC2016 £’0002015 £’000Goodwill89412Development costs-2,661Other intangible fixed assets3Property, plant and equipment-75Trade and other receivables289514Cash and cash equivalents-2073813,869Liabilities classified as held for sale2016 £’0002015 £’000Trade and other payables75401Deferred income432621Deferred tax liabilities-4335071,4558. Particulars of employees

73

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC2016 £’0002015 £’000The average number of persons (including directors) employed by the Group during the year was:Selling, distribution and administration120148Technical6672186220Costs incurred in respect of these employees were:2016 £’0002015 £’000Wages and salaries costs6,6377,403Social security costs699707Pension costs191119Health insurance3039Employee benefits1312Compensation for loss of office2852407,8558,520Of the costs listed above in relation to employees £Nil (2015: £577,000) was capitalised to the statement of financial position within development costs and £7,856,000 (2015: £7,943,000) was expensed to the statement of comprehensive income.The compensation for loss of office charge of £285,000 (2015: £240,000) relates to 22 employees (2015: three employees) who were made redundant during the year and no directors (2015: three directors).The reportable key management personnel are considered to be comprised of the Company directors, the remuneration for whose services during the year is detailed in the table below.Directors’ remunerationSalariesFees2016 £2015 £Executive DirectorsJ Arnold209,981-209,981201,410Non-Executive DirectorsM Jackson40,000-40,00032,500D Lowe30,000-30,00017,500C Pilling-30,00030,00019,500279,98130,000309,981270,910J Arnold received health insurance benefits during the year of £883 (2015: £1,120).J Arnold received payments into a personal retirement money purchase pension scheme during the year of £7,731 (2015: £7,474).No other directors received any other benefits other than those detailed above.The number of directors at 30 November 2016 accruing retirement benefits under money purchase schemes was one (2015: one).The interests of the directors in share options are detailed in the Directors’ Report on page 33 of this report. M Jackson exercised 6,808,103 share options during the year. The gain arising on exercise was £144,672.9. Financial income

10. Financial expense

Effective interest charged on convertible loan notes
Interest charged on non-convertible loan notes
Total financial expense

11. Taxation

Current income taxes credit:
UK corporation tax credit for the year
Adjustment in respect of prior year
Total current income tax credit
Deferred tax (note 23)
Impact of change in tax rate
De-recognition of deferred tax assets
Origination and reversal of temporary differences
Total deferred tax
Total tax charge/(credit)

2016 
£’000
217
178
395

2016 
£’000

(333)
(103)
(436)

-
194
279
473
37

2015 
£’000
191
75
266

2015 
£’000

-
-
-

27
80
(634)
(527)
(527)

As shown above the tax assessed on the loss on ordinary activities for the year is higher than (2015: higher 
than) the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 20% (2015: 20.3%).

The differences are explained as follows:

Factors affecting tax credit

Loss on ordinary activities before tax from continuing operations
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before tax from discontinued operations
Loss on ordinary activities before tax
Loss on ordinary activities multiplied by effective rate of tax
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
Adjustment in respect of prior year
De-recognition of deferred tax assets
Additional R&D claim CTA 2009
Total tax charge/(credit)
Tax charge/(credit) reported in the Consolidated Statement of 
Comprehensive Income
Tax charge/(credit) attributable to discontinued operations
Total tax charge/(credit)

2016 
£’000
(3,437)
1,538
(1,899)
(380)
666
(103)
141
(260)
64

37

27
64

2015 
£’000
(1,836)
(2,141)
(3,977)
(809)
274
-
80
(279)
(734)

(527)

(207)
(734)

74

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC2016 £’0002015 £’000Interest receivable on bank accounts-1Factors that may affect future tax expenses

A  reduction  in  the  UK  corporation  tax  rate  from  20%  to  19%  (effective  from  1  April  2017)  was  sub-
stantively  enacted  in  October  2015.  A  further  reduction  in  the  tax  rate  from  19%  to  17%  (ef-
fective  from  1  April  2020)  was  substantively  enacted  in  September  2016.  These  rates  there-
reporting  date.
fore  have  been  considered  when  calculating 

the  deferred 

tax  at 

the 

12. Dividend paid

Due to the significant and ongoing investment in developing our products, the directors do not propose a 
dividend in respect of the year ended 30 November 2016.

13. Earnings per share

The calculation of earnings per share is based upon the total Group loss for the year of £1,963,000 (2015: 
loss of £3,243,000) divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year 
which was 315,301,844 (2015: 252,593,681).

In  2016  and  2015  potential  ordinary  shares from the  share  option  schemes  and  convertible  loan  notes 
have an anti- dilutive effect due to the Group being in a loss position. As a result, dilutive loss per share is 
disclosed as the same value as basic loss per share.

This has been computed as follows:

Continuing 
Operations

Discontinued 
Operations

2016 
£’000

2016 
£’000

Total

2016 
£’000

Continuing 
Operations
2015 
(restated) 
£’000

Discontinued 
Operations
2015  
(restated) 
£’000

Total

2015 
£’000

(3,474)

1,511

(1,963)

(1,309)

(1,934)

(3,243)

(3,474)

‘000

1,511

‘000

(1,963)

'000

(1,309)

‘000

(1,934)

‘000

(3,243)

'000

315,302

315,302

315,302

252,594

252,594

252,594

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N /A

N /A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

315,302

315,302

315,302

252,594

252,594

252,594

(1.10)

0.48

(0.62)

(0.52)

(0.76)

(1.28)

(1.10)

0.48

(0.62)

(0.52)

(0.76)

(1.28)

Numerator

(Loss)/Profit for the 
year and earnings 
used in basic EPS
Earnings used in 
diluted EPS
Denominator
Weighted average 
number of shares 
used in basic EPS
Effects of:
Dilutive effect of 
options
Dilutive effect 
of loan note 
conversion
Weighted average 
number of shares 
used in diluted EPS
Basic (Loss)/
earnings per share 
(pence)
Diluted loss per 
share for the year 
(pence)

75

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCThe total number of options and warrants granted at 30 November 2016 of 24,353,073 (2015: 33,958,676) 
would generate £716,379 (2015: £984,626) in cash if exercised. At 30 November 2016, 220,000 (2015: 545,000) 
were priced above the mid-market closing price of 4.625p per share (2015: 5.13p per share) and 24,133,073 
(2015: 33,413,676) were below.

At 30 November 2016 7,872,941 (2015: 9,258,676) staff options were eligible for exercising at an average price 
of 2.96p (2015: 3.2p). Also eligible for exercising are the 14,491,897 warrants priced at 2.75p per share held 
by Elderstreet VCT plc, D Lowe and other individuals consequent to an initial investment in the Company 
in October 2008.

The below table shows the amount of outstanding convertible loan notes at 30 November 2016 and the 
amount of shares they would convert into if the holder chooses the conversion option:

Holder

Elderstreet VCT
Unicorn AIM VCT
Elderstreet VCT
Hawk Investments
Kestrel Partners LLP
Octopus AIM VCT
Total

Loan Notes £’000

500
750
200
300
400
200
2,350

Convert into 
shares ’000
12,500
18,750
6,667
10,000
13,333
6,667
67,917

Date of conversion

31 December 2017
31 December 2017
4 December 2019
4 December 2019
4 December 2019
4 December 2019

76

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC1313

77

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC14.Intangible fixed assets

Brand 
Value 
£’000

Goodwill 
£’000

Development 
Costs 
£’000

Software 
Licences 
£’000

Database 
£’000

Customer 
relationships 
£’000

Total 
£’000

Cost

At 1 December 2014
Capitalised during the 
year
Additions through 
business combination
Disposals
Held for sale
At 1 December 2015
Capitalised during the 
year
Disposals
Held for sale
At 30 November 2016
Amortisation and 
impairment
At 1 December 2014
Charge for the year
Disposals
Held for sale
Impairment in year
At 1 December 2015
Charge for the year
Disposals
Held for sale
At 30 November 2016
Net Book Value
At 30 November 2016
At 30 November 2015

1,369

12,005

-

-

-
-
1,369

-

-
-
1,369

409
60
-
-
-
469
60
-
-
529

840
900

-

2,043

(1,430)
(1,481)
11,137

-

(1,872)
(89)
9,176

8,776
-
(630)
(1,069)
-
7,077
-
(1,872)
-
5,205

3,971
4,060

4,692

1,533

-

-
(2,846)
3,379

522

(1,800)
(183)
1,918

552
378
-
(185)
1,899
2,644
265
(1,846)
(183)
880

1,038
735

160

68

8

-
-
236

57

-
(150)
143

83
44
-
-
-
127
71
-
(147)
51

92
109

-

-

997

-
-
997

-

-
-
997

-
138
-
-
-
138
272
-
-
410

587
859

-

-

18,226

1,601

830

-
-
830

3,878

(1,430)
(4,327)
17,948

-

579

-
-
830

(3,672)
(422)
14,433

-
70
-
-
-
70
226
-
-
296

534
760

9,820
690
(630)
(1,254)
1,899
10,525
894
(3,718)
(330)
7,371

7,062
7,423

The  carrying  value  and  remaining  amortisation  period  of  individually  material  intangible  assets  are  as 
follows:

Carrying amount

Remaining 
amortisation 
period

2016  
£’000

2015 
£’000

2016  
Years

2015 
Years

Brand

Access Intelligence Media and Communications

840

900

14

15

Development Costs
Access Intelligence Media and Communications - Vuelio Platform 
Development
AIMediaData - Vuelio Platform Development
Database
AIMediaData - PR & Media Contacts Database
Customer Relationships
AIMediaData - Acquired Customer Relationships

338

700

407

328

587

859

534

760

5

5

2

4

5

5

3

5

78

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCFor the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated by entity, which represent the Group’s CGUs 
and the lowest level within the Group at which the goodwill is monitored. 

The  carrying  value  of  capitalised  development  costs  which  are  not  yet  being  amortised  and  goodwill, 
allocated to each CGU are:

2016

Continuing operations
Access Intelligence plc
Access Intelligence Media and Communications Ltd
AIMediaData Ltd.

2015

Continuing operations
Access Intelligence plc
Access Intelligence Media and Communications Ltd
AIMediaData Ltd.

Development Costs  
£’000

-
-
-
-

Development Costs  
£’000

-
-
78
-

Goodwill 
£’000

-
1,928
2,043
3,971

Goodwill 
£’000

89
1,928
2,043
4,060

At the  reporting  date,  impairment tests were  undertaken  by  comparing the  carrying values  of  goodwill, 
capitalised development costs and other assets with the recoverable amount of the CGU to which the 
goodwill, capitalised development costs and other assets have been allocated. The recoverable amount 
of the CGU is based on value-in- use calculations. These calculations use pre-tax cash flow projections 
covering  a  five-year  period  based  on  financial  budgets  and  forecasts  as  approved  by  the  Board  with  a 
terminal  value  for  goodwill  impairment  assessment  and  covering  a  ten-year  period  based  on  financial 
budgets and forecasts as approved by the Board with no terminal value for other intangible assets. Ten 
years were selected as this represents the estimated lifetime of the software platforms.

The  key  assumptions  used  for  value-in-use  calculations  are  those  regarding  revenue  growth  rates  and 
discount rates over the forecast period. Growth rates are based on past experience, the anticipated impact 
of the CGUs significant investment in research and development, and expectations of future changes in 
the market. The value in use calculations use information from approved budgets and forecasts in the first 
three years, followed by applying specific growth rates for which the key assumptions in respect of annual 
revenue growth rates range between 0% and 7% from year 4 onwards.

The discount rate used for all companies was 12%, based on an assessment of the Group’s cost of capital 
and on comparison with other listed technology companies. The terminal growth rate used for the purposes 
of goodwill impairment assessments was 2.5%. The Board considered that no impairment to goodwill is 
necessary based on the value-in-use reviews of Access Intelligence Media & Communications Limited and 
AIMediaData Limited.

The value-in-use calculations for Access Intelligence Media & Communications Limited and AIMediaData 
Limited exceeded the carrying values of goodwill and relating to those companies.

Sensitivity  analysis  has  been  performed  on  reasonably  possible  changes  in  assumptions  upon  which 
recoverable amounts have been estimated. Based on the sensitivity analysis, a reduction of 51% in EBITDA 
delivered by Access Intelligence Media & Communications Limited would result in the carrying value of its 
goodwill being to equal its recoverable amount. For AIMediaData Limited, a 36% reduction in EBITDA would 
result in the carrying value of its goodwill being equal to its recoverable amount. For both companies, an 
increase in the discount rate by 12 percentage points would still not result in the carrying value of goodwill 
exceeding the recoverable amount.

79

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCBased on the sensitivity analysis, a reduction of 49% in EBITDA delivered by Access Intelligence Media & 
Communications Limited would result in the carrying value of its other intangible assets being to equal its 
recoverable amount. For AIMediaData Limited, a 26% reduction in EBITDA would result in the carrying value 
of its other intangible assets being equal to its recoverable amount. For both companies, an increase in the 
discount rate by 12 percentage points would still not result in the carrying value of other intangible assets 
exceeding the recoverable amount.

Other impairments

Other  intangible  assets  are  tested  for  impairment  if  indicators  of  an  impairment  exist.  Such  indicators 
include performance falling short of expectation.

In  2016,  development  costs  of  £Nil  (2015:  £177,000)  were  impaired  as  a  result  of  projects  that  did  not 
perform as expected.

The directors considered that there were no indicators of impairment relating to the remaining intangible 
fixed assets at 30 November 2016.

15. Investments in associates

Cost

At 1 December 2014 and 1 December 2015
Additions
Disposals
At 30 November 2016
Share of loss of associate and impairment
At 1 December 2014 and 1 December 2015
Share of loss of associate
Disposals
At 30 November 2016
Net Book Value
At 30 November 2016
At 30 November 2015

Investments in 
associates 
£’000

-
625
-
625

-
91
-
91

534
-

As part of the consideration for the disposal of AITrackRecord Limited during the year, the Group received 
a 20% shareholding in TrackRecord Holdings Limited, a company registered in England and Wales. The fair 
value of this shareholding based on the funding raised by TrackRecord Holdings Limited was £625,000. The 
shareholding in TrackRecord Holdings Limited is treated as an investment in associates as the Group is not 
able to exercise control over the company, but is able to exercise significant influence over the company 
by way  of  its  20%  shareholding  and through J Arnold  being the  Group’s  representative  on the  board  of 
TrackRecord Holdings Limited.

During the period of ownership, the Group’s share of the loss of TrackRecord Holdings Limited was £91,000. 
As the Group applies the equity method of accounting for its investment in TrackRecord Holdings Limited, 
the carrying value of investments in associates is reduced by this share of loss at the year-end.

80

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCSummarised financial information for associates

The tables below provide summarised financial information for TrackRecord Holdings Limited, an associate 
which is considered material to the Group. The information disclosed reflects the amounts presented in 
the financial statements of TrackRecord Holdings Limited and not Access Intelligence Plc’s share of those 
amounts. 

Total current assets
Total non-current assets
Total current liabilities
Net assets
Access Intelligence Plc share of net assets (20%)

Reconciliation to carrying amounts

Opening net assets 1 December
Issue of share capital
Share premium on issue of shares
Loss for the period
Total current assets

Summarised statement of comprehensive income

Revenue
Profit for the period from continuing operations
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income

Track Record Holdings 
Limited 
2016 
£’000
2,160
703
193
2,670
534

Track Record Holdings 
Limited 
2016 
£’000
-
265
2,860
(455)
2,670

Track Record Holdings 
Limited 
2016 
£’000
359
(455)
-
(455)

81

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC13

82

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC

16. Property, plant & equipment

Fixtures, fitting and 
equipment 
£’000

Leasehold 
improvements 
£’000

Cost

At 1 December 2014
Additions

Additions through business combination

Disposals
Classified as held for sale
At 1 December 2015
Additions
Disposals
Classified as held for sale
At 30 November 2016
Depreciation
At 1 December 2014
Charge for the year
Disposals
Classified as held for sale
At 1 December 2015
Charge for the year
Disposals
Classified as held for sale
At 30 November 2016
Net Book Value
At 30 November 2016
At 30 November 2015

1,436
66

122

(782)
(266)
576
17
(115)
(2)
476

986
206
(563)
(193)
436
90
(109)
(2)
415

61
140

104
-

132

(22)
(27)
187
-
-
-
187

31
51
(3)
(25)
54
94
-
-
148

39
133

17. Trade and other receivables

Current assets
Trade receivables
Less: provision for impairment of trade 
receivables

Prepayments and other receivables

2016 
£’000

1,780

(78)

1,702
863
2,565

Total 
£’000

1,540
66

254

(804)
(293)
763
17
(115)
(2)
663

1,017
257
(566)
(218)
490
184
(109)
(2)
563

100
273

2015 
£’000

3,008

(330)

2,678
950
3,628

83

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCDays outstanding: 
31–60 days
61–90 days
91-180 days

2016 
£’000

829
119
178
1,127

Movements on the Group provision for impairment of trade receivables are as follows:

At 1 December
On business combination
Increase in provision
Written off in year
At 30 November

Ageing of impaired debt

Days outstanding
31–60 days
61–90 days
91-180 days
More than 270 days

2016 
£’000
330
-
39
(291)
78

2016 
£’000

26
25
27
-
78

2015 
£’000

771
152
506
1,429

2015 
£’000
200
84
46
-
330

2015 
£’000

123
-
-
207
330

The  creation  and  release  of  a  provision  for  impaired  receivables  has  been  included  in  ‘administrative 
expenses’ in the income statement. Amounts charged to the allowance account are generally written off, 
where there is no expectation of recovering additional cash.

The other asset classes within trade and other receivables do not contain impaired assets.

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each class of receivable 
mentioned above together with our cash deposits totalling £1,162,000 (2015: £1,523,000). The Group does 
not hold any collateral as security.

As disclosed in note 22, credit risk is considered according to sector and necessary allowances are made 
when needed by assessing changes in our customers’ credit profiles and credit ratings.

84

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
18. Interest bearing loans and 
borrowing

Current 
Convertible loan notes
Non-convertible loan notes

Non-current
Convertible loan notes
Non-convertible loan notes

2016 
£’000

1,264
110
1,374

1,052
849
1,901

2015 
£’000

1,277
-
1,277

1,009
1,830
2,839

On 30th June 2009 £1,750,000 convertible loan notes were issued. At 30 November 2015 and 30 November 
2016, £1,250,000 of these loan notes were in issue.

The original terms were that these loan notes were redeemable at par or convertible to ordinary shares at 
4p per ordinary share on or before maturing on 30th June 2015 and carried a coupon rate of 6% per annum 
payable semi- annually until such time as they were repaid or were converted in accordance with their 
terms. The holder of the notes may convert all or part of the notes held by them into new ordinary shares 
in the Company on delivery to the Company of a conversion notice at 4p per share.

In 2014, the Company agreed terms with Elderstreet VCT (a company related to Chairman Michael Jackson) 
and Unicorn AIM VCT plc to extend the loans such that they mature on 31 December 2015, with enhanced 
interest at 8% during this extended period with conversion rights unchanged at 4p per share. In January 
2016,  the  maturity  dates  of  the  loan  notes  were  extended  to  31  December  2016  with  all  other  terms 
remaining unchanged. The carrying value of these loans at the prior year-end, including accrued interest, 
was £1,277,000.

In December 2016 the maturity dates of the loan notes were further extended to 31 December 2017 with all 
other terms remaining unchanged. These notes are classified as current at the year end.

In  December  2014  the  Company  issued  £1,100,000  of  convertible  loan  notes.  These  loan  notes  are 
redeemable at par or convertible to ordinary shares at 3p per ordinary share on or before maturing on 3 
December 2019 and carry a coupon rate of 8% per annum payable semi-annually until such time as they 
are repaid or converted.

No redemptions or conversions of the convertible loan stock arose in the year ended 30 November 2016.

85

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
The  net  proceeds  received from the  issues  of the  convertible  loan  notes  have  been  split  between the 
liability element and an equity component, representing the fair value of the embedded option to convert 
the liability into equity of the Company, as follows:

Proceeds of issue of convertible loan notes
Existing loan notes rolled over
Equity component
Deferred taxation
Initial fair value of liability component
Cumulative interest charged
Cumulative interest paid
Liability component at 30 November

2016 
£’000

-
2,350
(255)
(79)
2,016
1,009
(709)
2,316

2015 
£’000

1,100
1,250
(255)
(79)
2,016
792
(522)
2,286

The  equity  component  of  £255,000  (2015:  £255,000)  has  been  credited  to  equity  reserve.  The  interest 
charged  for  the  year  is  calculated  by  applying  an  effective  rate  of  interest  of  10.1%  (2015:  9.8%)  to  the 
liability component for the 12-month period. The liability component is measured at amortised cost. The 
difference between the carrying amount of the liability component at the date of issue and the amount 
reported in the statement of financial position at 30 November 2016 represents the effective interest rate 
less interest paid to that date.

The movement on the convertible loan note liability is summarised below:

Opening loan liability
Issue of convertible loan notes
Interest charged for the year
Interest paid in the year
Liability component at 30 November

2016 
£’000
2,286
-
217
(187)
2,316

2015 
£’000
1,301
941
191
(147)
2,286

On 22 June 2015 the Company issued £1,818,000 of non-convertible loan notes which carried an interest 
rate of 10% for one year rising to 12% thereafter. Interest is payable quarterly in arrears. The loans notes are 
fully repayable in five years.

Opening loan liability
Issue of non-convertible loan notes
Costs associated with the issue of loans
Repayment of non-convertible loan notes
Interest charged for the year
Interest paid in the year
Liability component at 30 November

2016 
£’000
1,830
-
-
(900)
178
(149)
959

2015 
£’000
-
1,818
(18)
-
75
(45)
1,830

86

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
 
19. Trade and other payables

Due within one year

Trade payables
Other taxes and social security costs
VAT payable

20. Deferred revenue

At 1 December
Invoiced during the year
On acquisition of business
On disposal of business
Moved to held for sale
Revenue recognised during the year
At 30 November

2016 
£’000
1,041
161
99
1,301

2016 
£’000
4,643
10,464
-
28
(432)
(10,931)
3,772

2015 
£’000
824
190
211
1,225

2015 
£’000
3,186
10,345
3,074
(485)
(621)
(10,856)
4,643

21. Financial instruments

The Group’s treasury activities are designed to provide suitable, flexible funding arrangements to satisfy the 
Group’s requirements. The Group uses financial instruments comprising borrowings, cash, liquid resources 
and items such as trade receivables and payables that arise directly from its operations. The main risks 
arising from the  Group financial  instruments  relate to the  maintaining  of  liquidity  across the five  group 
entities  and  debt  collection.  The  Board  reviews  policies  for  managing  each  of  these  risks  and  they  are 
summarised below.

The Group finances its operations through a combination of cash resources, loan notes and equity. Short 
term flexibility is provided by moving resources between the individual subsidiaries. Exposure to interest 
rate fluctuations  is  minimal  as  all  borrowings  are  at fixed  rates  of  interest. The  Group  also  has  deposit 
facilities on which 1.25% interest was being earned throughout 2016 (2015: 1.25%) and will be optimising 
the use of these accounts going forward. The Group’s exposure to interest rate risk is not significant and 
therefore no sensitivity analysis has been performed.

Small  amounts  of foreign  currency  risk  exist  in two  subsidiaries which  invoice  in  currencies  other than 
sterling.  Due  to  the  relative  size  of  the  currency  risks  concerned  no  hedging  takes  place  in  Australian 
dollars, Euros or US dollars. At the year-end there were no open contracts, however the Group was holding 
a US dollar deposit of $271,334 (2015: $113,058) which was translated at the rate of 1.2481 (2015: 1.5031) for 
inclusion in the consolidated statement of financial position. This amounted to £217,398 (2015: £75,206). 
There are no hedges against this balance.

87

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCThe Group did not hold any other significant assets or liabilities in foreign denominated currencies at the 
reporting date. The directors do not consider that there is a significant exposure to foreign exchange risk 
and therefore no sensitivity analysis has been performed. 

At 30 November 2016 borrowings comprised convertible loan notes of £2,350,000 (2015: £2,350,000) and 
non-convertible  loan  notes  of  £918,000  (2015:  £1,818,000).  Of  the  convertible  loan  notes,  £750,000  and 
£500,000 loan notes have been extended and may convert to equity on 31 December 2017 at 4 pence per 
share unless they have already been redeemed at par. The remaining loan notes will convert into equity on 
7 December 2019 at 3 pence per share.

There is no material difference between the fair values and book values of the Group’s financial instruments. 
Short term trade receivables and payables have been excluded from the above disclosures.

The objectives of the Group’s treasury activities are to manage financial risk, secure cost-effective funding 
where necessary and minimise the adverse effects of fluctuations in the financial markets on the value 
of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities, on reported profitability and on the cash flow of the Group. 
Interest income is sought wherever possible and in 2016 produced £Nil (2015: £1,000) of income.

The Group’s principal financial instruments for fundraising are through share issues.

2016
Assets per the balance sheet
Trade and other receivables excluding prepayments
Cash and cash equivalents

Liabilities per the balance sheet
Trade and other payables excluding accruals
Interest bearing loans and borrowings

Undiscounted contractual maturity of financial liabilities
Amounts due within one year
Amounts due between one and five years
Amounts that convert to equity

Less: future interest charges
Financial liabilities carrying value

The above analysis excludes corporation tax receivable.

Loans, receivables 
and other payables 
£’000

1,702
1,162
2,864

1,301
3,275
4,576

Total 
£’000

1,702
1,162
2,864

1,301
3,275
4,576

1,541
1,502
2,315
5,358
(782)
4,576

88

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
2015
Assets per the balance sheet
Trade and other receivables excluding prepayments
Cash and cash equivalents

Liabilities per the balance sheet
Trade and other payables excluding accruals
Interest bearing loans and borrowings

Undiscounted contractual maturity of financial liabilities
Amounts due within one year
Amounts due between one and five years
Amounts that convert to equity

Less: future interest charges
Financial liabilities carrying value

Loans, receivables 
and other payables 
£’000

2,678
1,523
4,201

1,599
4,116
5,715

Total 
£’000

2,678
1,523
4,201

1,599
4,116
5,715

1,599
2,827
2,648
7,074
(1,359)
5,715

The liquidity risk  relating to the contractual liabilities listed above is managed on a local basis through their 
day to day cash management. The Group has invested significantly in restructuring the Group and building 
products written in current code bases, accordingly the Group is liquid with £1,162,000 (2015: £1,523,000) 
available cash resources against a liability payable within the next 12 months of £1,541,000 (2015: £1,599,000). 
Management monitor cash balances weekly. However should any subsidiary, or the Company, find that it 
does not have the liquidity to pay a debt as it becomes due an inter-company cash transfer will be made 
available by another member of the Group.

22. Financial and operational risk 
management

The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks which are managed by the Group and subsidiary 
management teams as part of their day-to-day responsibilities. The Group’s overall risk management policy 
concentrates on those areas of exposure most relevant to its operations. These fall into four categories:

• Competitive risk — that our products are no longer competitive or relevant to our customers
• Cash flow and liquidity risk — that we run out of the cash required to run the business
• Credit risk — that our customers do not pay
• Key personnel risk — that we cannot attract and retain talented people

Further information on these risks and the Group’s actions to mitigate them is provided on page 26 of the 
Strategic Report.

89

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
23. Deferred tax assets and 
liabilities

The following are the major deferred tax assets and liabilities recognised by the Group and the movements 
thereon during the current year end the prior year:

At 1 December 2014
Charge to profit or loss
Charge to equity
Disposal of subsidiary
Change in tax rate
At 30 November 2015

At 1 December 2015
Charge to profit or loss
Disposal of subsidiary
Moved to held for sale
At 30 November 2016

Attributable to:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Total

Accelerated 
depreciation 
£’000

Convertible 
loan notes 
£’000

Share-based 
payments 
£’000

Tax losses 
£’000

(10)
18
-
20
1
29

29
(2)
1
(6)
22

22
-
22

-
1
(30)
-
-
(29)

(29)
-
-
-
(29)

(29)
-
(29)

-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-

389
347
-
-
(17)
719

719
(511)
-
-
208

208
-
208

Accelerated 
tax on 
assets 
£’000
(916)
682
-
-
44
(190)

(190)
13
(24)
-
(201)

(201)
-
(201)

Total 
£’000

(537)
1,048
(30)
20
28
529

529
(500)
(23)
(6)
-

-
-
-

At the  reporting  date the  Group  had  unused tax  losses  of  approximately  £6,000,000  (2015:  £7,000,000) 
available for offset against future profits. A deferred tax asset has been recognised in respect of all available 
losses  expected  to  be  utilised  against  future  taxable  profits  within  three  years  based  on  the  forecasts 
approved by the directors. The tax losses do not have any expiry date.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax 
assets against current tax liabilities and when the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to income taxes 
levied by the same taxation authority on either the taxable entity or different taxable entities where there is 
an intention to settle the balances on a net basis.

Deferred tax assets totalling £923,000 (2015: £606,000) arising in respect of losses have not been included 
in the statement of financial position due to uncertainties in regard to their recoverability.

The following is the aggregate amounts of deferred tax balances in each group entity, after allowable offset, 
for financial reporting purposes:

2016 
£’000

230
(230)
-

2015 
£’000

865
(336)
529

Deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities
Total

90

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC24. Share capital

Equity: Ordinary shares of 0.5p each

Allotted, issued and fully paid 315,935,118 ordinary shares of 
0.5p each (2015: 307,127,015 ordinary shares of 0.5p each)

2016 
£’000

1,580

2015 
£’000

1,535

During 2016, 6,808,103 shares were issued at 2.75p as a result of a director exercising share options and 
2,000,000 were issued at 2.2p as a result of a former director exercising share options.

On 21 September 2011 29,666,667 ordinary shares of 0.5 pence, and with a total nominal value of £148,333 
were returned to the Company and were held in treasury at the year end. The shares held in treasury have 
no voting rights, or rights to dividends and so the total issued share capital for voting and dividend purposes 
is 286,268,451 (2015: 277,460,348).

Transaction costs associated with share issues in the year amounted to £Nil (2015: £12,120). Transaction 
costs are accounted for as a reduction from the share premium account.

25. Equity-settled share-based 
payments

The Company has a share option scheme for employees of the Group.

Ordinary share options and warrants granted and subsisting at 30 November 2016 were as follows:

Option price

No of shares

Exercisable 
between

2.75p
2.75p
3.0p
4.375p
5.5p
2.2p
3.3p
3.5p
3.1p
2.5p

14,491,897
1,000,000
1,302,282
2,000,000
220,000
1,500,000

No time limit
Apr 2012-Apr 2019
Apr 2012-Apr 2019
Sep 2012-Sep 2019
Dec 2012-Dec 2019
Dec 2014-Dec 2021
838,894 Mar 2015-Mar 2022
Jan 2016-Jan 2023
Jun 2016-Jun 2023
Oct 2016-Oct 2023

1,000,000
1,000,000
1,000,000
24,353,073

Date of grant

23 October 2008
03 April 2009
08 April 2009
29 September 2009
04 December 2009
19 December 2011
07 March 2012
09 January 2013
13 June 2013
24 October 2013

91

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCDetails of the movements in the weighted average exercise price (“WAEP”) and number of share options 
during the current and prior year are as follows:

At start of year

Granted

Exercised

Forfeited

At end of year

WAEP 2015
WAEP 2016
Options 2015
Options 2016

3.06
2.90
38,436,281
33,958,676

-
-
-
-

3.02
2.63
(1,950,000)
(8,808,103)

4,76
4.64
(2,527,605)
(797,500)

2.90
2.94
33,958,676
24,353,073

No options were cancelled in the year (2015: Nil).

The weighted average price of shares on the date of exercise during the year was 4.875 pence (2015: 4.375 
pence).

The options grant detailed above resulted in a share-based payment charge for the Group of £13,000 (2015: 
£26,000). During 2016, there were no share options granted in the year.

Further details of share options exercisable at the year-end are provided in note 13.

There  are  no  market,  non-market  or  service  conditions  as  part  of  the  share  option  scheme.  The  only 
condition  existing  is  that  employees  must  still  be  in  employment  with  the  Company  at  the  point  they 
exercise the options.

26. Cash and cash equivalents

The  Group  monitors  its  exposure  to  liquidity  risk  based  on  the  net  cash  flows  that  are  available.  The 
following provides an analysis of the changes in net funds:

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents

As at 30 
November 2015 
£’000
1,523

As at 30 
November 2014 
£’000
1,144

Cash outflow 
£’000

(361)

Cash outflow 
£’000

379

At at 30 
November 2016 
£’000
1,162

At at 30 
November 2015 
£’000
1,523

92

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC27. Commitments

Capital commitments

The Group had no capital commitments at the end of the financial year or prior year. 

Operating lease commitments

The Group was committed to making the following payments in respect of operating leases for land and 
buildings expiring:

Not later than one year
Later than one year and not later than five years
Later than five years

Land and buildings

2016 
£’000
566
2,281
96
2,943

2015 
£’000
580
2,279
664
3,523

The  Group  leases  various  offices  and  storage  units  under  non-cancellable  fixed  term  operating  lease 
agreements. The lease terms are up to 10 years, with break clauses ahead of the full term and the majority 
are not renewable at the end of the lease period.

Other operating lease commitments comprise motor vehicles and office equipment expiring:

Not later than one year
Later than one year and not later than five years

Provisions and contingent liabilities

Other

2016 
£’000
-
-
-

2015 
£’000
21
25
46

At 1 December 2015
Charged to profit or loss
Released in year
At 30 November 2016

Due within one year
Due after more than one year

Onerous Contracts 
£’000

Leasehold dilapidations 
£’000

Legal disputes 
£’000

47
-
(20)
27

27
-
27

374
-
-
374

-
374
374

100
(18)
(82)
-

-
-
-

Onerous  contracts  predominantly  relate  to  office  equipment  and  services  no  longer  required  after  the 
business combination part way through the prior year. Inherent uncertainties in measuring the provision 
relate to the expected future lease payments on the equipment and the final agreed termination fee.

Leasehold dilapidations relate to the estimated cost of returning a leasehold property to its original state 
at the end of the lease in accordance with the lease terms. The main uncertainty relates to estimating 
the cost that will be incurred at the end of the lease. The earliest point at which it is considered that this 
amount may become payable is September 2017.

93

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC 
 
28. Related party transactions

One (2015: one) of the directors has received a portion of their remuneration through their individual service 
companies during the year. The payments represent short term employee benefits. The amounts involved 
are as follows and relate to activities within their responsibilities as directors:

In all cases the directors are responsible for their own taxation and national insurance liabilities.

2016 
£

2015 
£

C Pilling (via The Personal Web Company Ltd.)

30,000

19,500

During the prior year, Access Intelligence Plc invoiced Elderstreet Investments Limited, a company of which 
M Jackson is Chairman, £760 for rent and office support costs and credited Elderstreet Investments Limited 
for rent which was charged in advance but which, on termination of the lease, was no longer due of £9,099. 
The  charges were  based  on  usage  and  considered to  be  at  arm’s  length  and  on  standard  commercial 
terms. There were no similar transactions during 2016.

Also during the prior year, Elderstreet Investments Limited invoiced Access Intelligence Plc 2015: £16,740 
for legal and support costs it incurred on the Company’s behalf.  There were no similar transactions during 
2016.

At the year-end Access Intelligence Plc owed Elderstreet Investments Limited  £8,337 (2015: £10,766).

In the prior year, for the acquisition of AIMediaData Limited, Elderstreet Investments Limited provided a 
short term loan of £100,000 to the Group.  No interest was charged on the loan and the amount was repaid 
shortly afterwards.

During the year, interest on convertible loans of £56,153 (2015: £49,000) and on non-convertible loans of 
£31,595 (2015: £Nil) was paid to Elderstreet VCT plc which is controlled by M Jackson.

During the prior year M Jackson, a director, provided short term loan amounts of £550,000 and £250,000 to 
fund the Group’s investment activities. No interest was charged on the loans and the amounts were repaid 
shortly afterwards. Also due from M Jackson was an amount of £2,040 (2015: £2,040).

During the year Access Intelligence Media and Communications Limited received services from Macranet 
Limited, a company in which M Jackson is a board member totalling £107,400 (2015: £51,000). At the year 
end the Company owed £12,600 (2015: £Nil) to Macranet Limited.

During the year the Company recognised a share based payment charge of £3,208 (2015: £3,667) in respect 
of key management personnel.

94

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC29. Pension commitments

Individual subsidiaries of the Group operate defined contribution pension schemes for their employees. 
The assets of the schemes are held separately from those of the Group. The annual contributions payable 
are charged to the income statement when they fall due for payment.

During the year £191,000 (2015: £119,000) was contributed by the Group to individual pension schemes. At 
30 November 2016 £Nil of pension contributions were outstanding (2015: £12,000).

30. Events after the reporting 
date

In December 2016, the Company agreed terms with Elderstreet VCT and Unicorn AIM VCT plc to extend 
the loans issued in June 2009 such that they mature on 31 December 2017, with interest at 8% during this 
extended period with conversion rights unchanged at 4p per share.

On 7 February 2017, 1,161,106 employee share options were exercised with an exercise price of 3 pence. The 
proceeds arising were £34,833. Also on 7 February 2017, 193,518 employee share options were exercised  
with an exercise price of 2.75 pence. The proceeds arising were £5,322.

In March 2017, the Company served notice to its landlord to exercise the break clause in its lease for one of 
the floors that it occupies at Longbow House, Chiswell Street, London, EC1Y 4TW. The break will be effective 
from 6 September 2017.

On 14 March 2017, Access Intelligence Plc transferred the trade and assets of its branch AIControlPoint to its 
subsidiary company formed during the year, AIControlPoint Limited. On 16 March 2017, Access Intelligence 
Plc disposed of 100% of the issued share capital of AIControlPoint Limited, being the disposal group held 
for  sale  in  note 7 for  a  consideration totalling  £782,000.  Group  profit  on  disposal  of the  subsidiary was 
£588,000, Company profit on disposal was £639,000.

95

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCCompany Statement of Financial 
Position

Company Number: 04799195
At 30 November 2016

96

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCNote2016 £’0002015 £’000Non-current assetsTangible assets44978Investments53,6364,521Intangible assets61341Deferred tax assets224330Total non-current assets3,9224,970Current assetsTrade and other receivables7445496Amounts due from group undertakings84,6575,072Cash at bank and in hand702249Total current assets5,8045,817Total assets9,72610,787Current liabilitiesTrade and other payables9229404Amounts due to group undertakings89765,282Accruals292253Provisions14147Deferred revenue432383Interest bearing loans and borrowings101,3741,277Total current liabilities3,3177,746Non-current liabilitiesInterest bearing loans and borrowings101,9012,839Total non-current liabilities1,9012,839Total liabilities5,21810,585Net assets4,508202Capital and reservesCalled up share capital111,5801,535Treasury shares(148)(148)Share premium account1,4581,271Capital redemption reserve191191Share option reserve377364Equity reserve255255Profit and loss account795(3,266)Equity shareholders’ funds4,508202The financial statements were approved by the Board of directors on 28 April 2017 and signed on its behalf by:J ArnoldDirectorCompany Statement of Changes 
in Equity

Year ended 30 November 2016

97

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCShare capital £’000Treasury Shares £’000Share premium account £’000Capital redemption reserve £’000Share option reserve £’000Equity reserve £’000Retained earnings £’000Total £’000GroupAt 1 December 20141,324(148)224191338126(68)1,987Total comprehensive loss for the year------(3,198)(3,198)Equity component of convertible loan notes net of deferred tax-----129-129Transactions with ownersIssue of share capital211-1,047----1,258Share-based payments - current year----26--26At 1 December 20151,535(148)1,271191364255(3,266)202Total comprehensive income for the year------4,0614,061Transactions with ownersIssue of share capital45-187----232Share-based payments - current year----13--13At 30 November 20161,580(148)1,4581913772557954,508Notes to the Company Financial 
Statements
1. General Information

Year ended 30 November 2016

The Company is incorporated in England and Wales.

2. Accounting Policies

The particular accounting policies adopted by the Company are described below.

Basis of preparation

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable United Kingdom accounting 
standards,  including  Financial  Reporting  Standard 102  –  ‘The  Financial  Reporting  Standard  applicable  in 
the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland’ (‘FRS 102’), and with the Companies Act 2006. The financial 
statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis as specified in the accounting policies below. 

The  Company’s  functional  currency  is  Pound  Sterling,  being  the  currency  of  the  primary  economic 
environment in which the Company operates.

In preparing these financial statements, the Company has taken advantage of the disclosure exemptions, as 
permitted by FRS 102 paragraph 1.12. The Company has therefore complied with the applicable conditions, 
including  providing  notification  of the  use  of  exemptions to the  Company’s  shareholders who  have  not 
objected to the use of such disclosure exemptions.

The  Company  has  taken  advantage  of  the  following  exemptions  in  preparing  the  Company  financial 
statements:

•  from preparing a Cash Flow Statement in accordance with Section 7 ‘Cash Flow Statements’;
• from  providing  certain  disclosures  as  required  by  Section 11  ‘Basic  Financial  Instruments’  and  Section 
12 ‘Other Financial Instrument Issues’, as equivalent disclosures are provided in the consolidated financial 
statements; and
•  from disclosing the Company’s key management personnel compensation, as required by paragraph 7 
of Section 33 ‘Related Party Disclosures’. 

Going Concern

On the basis of current financial projections and available funds and facilities, the directors are satisfied that 
the Company, taking into account that it operates as part of the Access Intelligence plc Group, has adequate 
resources  to  continue  in  operation  for  the  foreseeable  future  and  therefore  consider  it  appropriate  to 
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis (refer to the Group going concern assessment 
in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements). 

Results of the Company

As permitted by Section 408(3) of the Companies Act 2006, the profit and loss account of the Company 
is  not  presented  as  part  of  these  accounts.  The  Company’s  profit  after  taxation,  for  the  financial  year 
amounted to £4,061,000 (2015: loss £3,198,000).

98

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCSignificant judgements

In addition to going concern, the areas involving a high degree of judgement or complexity relate to:
• the recognition of deferred tax assets in relation to losses (refer to note 23 of the consolidated financial 
statements for further details).

Significant estimates

Further to the significant judgements above the areas where key assumptions and estimates have been 
made by management relate to:
• the charge for share-based payment transactions which include assumptions on future share prices 
movements, expected future dividends, and risk-free discount rates (refer to note 25 of the consolidated 
financial statements for further details).

Share-based payments

The  Company  issues  equity-settled  share-based  payments  to  certain  employees.  These  equity-settled 
share-based payments are measured at fair-value at the date of the grant. Where material, the fair value 
as determined at the grant date is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on the 
Company’s estimate of shares that will eventually vest.

Fair value  is  measured  by  use  of the  Black–Scholes  method.  Further  details  in  relation to  share-based 
payments are set out in note 25 of the consolidated financial statements. 

Tangible assets

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses.

Depreciation is charged to the income statement on both a straight-line and reducing balance basis over 
the estimated useful lives of fixtures, fittings and equipment taking into account any estimated residual 
value. The estimated useful lives are as follows:

Fixtures, fittings and equipment - 3 - 5 years 
Leasehold improvements - over lease term

Investments 
Investments held as fixed assets are stated at cost less provision for any impairment.

Intangible assets 

Research and development expenditure

Research costs are expensed as incurred. Development expenditures on an individual project are recognised 
as an intangible asset when the Company can demonstrate:
• the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that the asset will be available for use or sale
• its intention to complete and its ability and intention to use or sell the asset;
• how the asset will generate future economic benefits;
• the availability of resources to complete the asset; and
• the ability to measure reliably the expenditure during development.

99

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCFollowing initial recognition of the development expenditure as an asset, the asset is carried at cost less 
any accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. Amortisation of the asset begins from 
the date development is complete and the asset is available for use, which may be before first sale. It is 
amortised over the period of expected future benefit. Amortisation is recorded in administration expenses. 
During the period of development, the asset is tested for impairment annually. In 2016 there was no (2015: 
one)  capitalised  development  project. The  directors  assess the  useful  life  of the  completed  capitalised 
development projects to be five years from the date of the first sale or when benefits begin to be realised 
and amortisation will begin at that time.

Software licences

Software licences include software that is not integral to a related item of hardware. These items are stated 
at cost less accumulated amortisation and any impairment. Amortisation is calculated on a straight-line 
basis over the estimated useful economic life. Although perpetual licences are maintained under support 
and maintenance agreements, a useful economic life of five years has been determined.

Impairment of non-financial assets

The  carrying  amounts  of  the  Company’s  assets  other  than  deferred  tax  assets,  are  reviewed  at  each 
reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, the 
asset’s recoverable amount is estimated based upon the value in use.

An impairment loss is recognised whenever the carrying amount of an asset or its cash-generating unit 
exceeds its recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognised in profit or loss.

Impairment losses recognised in respect of cash-generating units are allocated to the carrying amount 
of the assets in the unit on a pro rata basis, applied in priority to non-current assets ahead of more liquid 
items. A cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that 
are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.

Reversals of impairment

An impairment loss is reversed when there is an indication that the impairment loss may no longer exist 
and there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount.

An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed the 
carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortisation, if no impairment 
loss had been recognised.

Financial instruments

Financial  instruments  comprise  trade  and  other  receivables,  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  loans  and 
borrowings, trade and other payables and other financial liabilities.

Financial  instruments  are  recognised  initially  at fair value  plus, for  instruments  not  at fair value through 
profit or loss, any directly attributable transaction costs, except as described below. Subsequent to initial 
recognition financial instruments are measured as described below.

100

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC101

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCA financial instrument is recognised if the Company becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assets are derecognised if the Company’s contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial assets expire or if the Company transfers the financial asset to another party without retaining control of substantially all risks and rewards of the asset. Financial liabilities are derecognised if the Company’s obligations specified in the contract expire or are discharged or are cancelled. Trade and other receivables are recorded initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost, using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. Specific impairment provisions are made when management consider the debtor irrecoverable and these are charged to the income statement. Trade and other payables are recorded initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost, using the effective interest method.Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, and other short term highly liquid investments.Loans and borrowings and other financial liabilities, which include the convertible redeemable loan notes, are initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. Interest expense is measured on an effective yield basis and recognised in the income statement over the relevant period.Issue costs are apportioned between the liability and equity components of the convertible loan notes based upon their relative carrying amounts at the date of issue. The portion relating to the equity component is recognised in equity.Finance payments associated with financial liabilities are dealt with as part of finance expenses.The Company may enter into derivative financial instruments for risk management purposes. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date the derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value with gains and losses recognised through profit or loss. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.Convertible loan notesThe component parts of compound instruments issued by the Company are classified separately as financial liabilities  and equity in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangement. At the date of issue, in the case of a convertible loan note denominated in the functional currency of the issuer that may be converted into a fixed number  of equity shares, the fair value of the liability component is estimated at the present value of the stream of future cash flows (including both coupon payments and redemption) discounted at the market rate of interest that would have been applied to an instrument of comparable credit quality with substantially the same cash flows, on the same terms, but without the conversion option. This amount is recorded as a liability on an amortised cost basis using the effective interest method until extinguished upon conversion or at the instrument’s maturity date. The equity component is determined by deducting the amount of the liability component and deferred tax liability from the fair value of the compound instrument as a whole. This is recognised and included in equity, and is not subsequently re-measured.ProvisionsProvisions are recognised when there is a present obligation (legal or constructive) as  a result of a past event, it is probable that the obligation will be required to be settled, and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the end of the reporting period, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Provisions are discounted when the time value of money is material.102

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCCurrent and deferred income taxThe tax expense for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in profit or loss except to the extent that it relates to items recognised directly in equity, in which case it is recognised in equity.Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. The following temporary differences are not provided for: the initial recognition of goodwill; the initial recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit other than in a business combination, and differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to the extent that they will probably not reverse in the foreseeable future. The amount of deferred tax provided is based on the expected manner of realisation or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date. The recognition of deferred tax assets is based upon whether it is more likely than not that sufficient and suitable taxable profits will be available in the future, against which the reversal of temporary differences can be deducted. Recognition, therefore, involves judgement regarding the future financial performance of the particular legal entity or tax group in which the deferred tax asset has been recognised.Historical differences between forecast and actual taxable profits have not resulted in material adjustments to the recognition of deferred tax assets.Employee benefitsThe Company operates a defined contribution pension schemes for its employees. The assets of the schemes are not managed by the Company and are held separately from those of the Company. The annual contributions payable are charged to the income statement when they fall due for payment.RevenueRevenue represents the amounts derived from the provision of goods and services, stated net of Value Added Tax. The methodology applied to income recognition is dependent upon the goods or services being supplied.Revenues from the delivery of infrastructure are recognised on installation with associated training and consultancy fees recognised when specified contractual milestones are met or on project completion. In the event that these services are invoiced in advance they will be credited to deferred revenue and released to profit or loss once delivered. The revenue recognised on delivery and installation of infrastructure is the amount stated in the contract for such services. The contractual fee for the delivery and installation of infrastructure is calculated separately to fees for associated licensing arrangements based on fair value. For infrastructure this is measured using third party cost plus an appropriate profit margin basis in accordance with our business model. The professional services element for installation would be provided to the customer on a time and materials basis. The Directors consider that the cost of providing the service (i.e. the third party costs) plus an appropriate profit margin represents an approximation  of the fair value of the service provided.In respect of income relating to annual or multi-year service contracts and/or hosted services which are invoiced in advance, it is the Company’s policy to recognise revenue on a straight-line basis over the period of the contract. The full value of each sale is credited to deferred revenue when invoiced to be released to profit or loss in equal instalments over the contract period.103

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCDuring the course of a customer’s relationship with the Company, their system may be upgraded. These upgrades can be separated into two distinct types:• Specific upgrades, i.e. moving from an old legacy system to one of the Company’s latest products. This would require the migration of the customer’s data from the old system and the set-up of their new system; and• Non-specific upgrades, i.e. enhancements to customers’ systems as a result of internal development effort to improve the stability or functionality of the platform for all customers.Customers do not have a contractual right to non-specific upgrades. For specific upgrades, customers are required to separately purchase these through signing a new contract which sets out the one-off professional services fee for the upgrade to cover migration costs and any increase in their annual licence fee.Different accounting treatment is applied to specific and non-specific upgrades due to the differing obligations and performance of the Company. No additional amounts are charged to customers for non-specific upgrades as these are provided to all customers without obligation. Specific upgrades are completed on an individual customer basis and are contracted for separately with additional fees.The Group does not have any further obligations that it would have to provide for under the licensing arrangements. Operating lease paymentsPayments made under operating leases are recognised in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Lease incentives received are recognised in the income statement as an integral part of the total lease expense.Finance income and finance expensesFinance income and finance expenses are recognised in profit or loss as they accrue, using the effective interest method. Finance income relates to interest income on the Company’s bank account balances.Interest payable comprises interest payable or finance charges on loans classified as liabilities.In relation to interest relating to the convertible redeemable loan notes, the charge to profit or loss is an ‘effective interest charge’ over the period as opposed to the actual interest paid or payable. The effective interest charge is higher than the actual interest paid.Foreign exchangeThe financial statements of the Company are presented in the currency of the primary economic environment in which it operates (its functional currency). The results and financial position of the Company are expressed in pounds sterling, which is the functional currency of the Company, and the presentation currency for the consolidated financial statements.In preparing the financial statements of the individual companies, transactions in currencies other than the entity’s functional currency (foreign currencies) are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. At each reporting date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing at that date. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated.Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items, and on the retranslation of monetary items, are included in profit or loss for the year.3. First time adoption of FRS102

This is the first financial year that the Company has presented its financial statements in accordance with 
FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Framework Applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland. For financial years 
up to and including the year ending 30 November 2015, the Company prepared its financial statements in 
accordance with previously existent UK GAAP.

The date of transition to FRS 102 is therefore 1 December 2014. In carrying out the transition to FRS 102, 
none of the optional exemption in respect of operating lease incentives has been taken in respect of the 
optional exemptions permitted by Section 35 Transition to this FRS have been applied. There have been 
no changes to accounting policies or accounting treatments required to be made upon transition to 
FRS 102. Accordingly the Company’s opening equity position as at the 1 December 2014 and its financial 
position and performance for the years ended 30 November 2015 and 30 November 2016 are unchanged 
from that previously presented under previously extant UK GAAP. 

4. Tangible fixed assets

Fixtures fittings 
and equipment 
£’000

Leasehold 
improvements 
£’000

262
4
266

230
26
256

10
32

65
-
65

19
7
26

39
46

Investment in 
subsidiaries 
£’000

Investment in 
associates 
£’000

15,754
12
(1,238)
14,528
-
(6,134)
8,394

9,510
497
10,007
-
(4,715)
5,292

3,102
4,521

-
-
-
-
625
-
625

-
-
-
91
-
91

534
-

Total 
£’000

327
4
331

249
33
282

49
78

Total 
£’000

15,754
12
(1,238)
14,528
625
(6,134)
9,019

9,510

10,007
91
(4,715)
5,383

3,636
4,521

Cost
At 1 December 2015
Additions
At 30 November 2016
Depreciation
At 1 December 2015
Charge for the year
At 30 November 2016
Net Book Value
At 30 November 2016
At 30 November 2015

5. Investments

Cost
At 1 December 2014
Additions
Disposals
At 1 December 2015
Additions
Disposals
At 30 November 2016
Impairment
At 1 December 2014
Impairment charge
At 1 December 2015
Impairment charge
Disposals
At 30 November 2016
Net Book Value
At 30 November 2016
At 30 November 2015

104

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCAdditions in the year comprise a capital contribution for the Company’s obligation to settle share options 
on behalf of subsidiaries an investment in a newly incorporated dormant subsidiary, AIControlPoint Limited, 
and the investment in Track Record Holdings Limited as a result of the disposal of AITrackRecord Limited. 
The value of the investment in AIControlPoint Limited was £100. 

At 30 November 2016 the Company was the beneficial owner of the entire issued share capital and controlled 
all the votes of its subsidiaries, all of which are incorporated in England and Wales. The subsidiaries are set 
out below:

Subsidiary
AIMediaData Limited
Access Intelligence Media and 
Communications Limited
A.I. Talent Limited
AIControlPoint Limited
Backup and Running plc

Activity
Software development

Software development

Software development
Dormant
Dormant

Share type
Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary

% holding
100%

100%

100%
100%
100%

At 30 November 2016 the Company was the beneficial owner of the following share capital of associates, 
all of which are incorporated in England and Wales:

Associate
Track Record Holdings Limited

Activity
Software development

Share type
Ordinary

% holding
20%

6. Intangible assets

Development 
costs 
£’000

Software licence 
£’000

Total 
£’000

Cost
At 1 December 2015
Additions
At 30 November 2016
Depreciation
At 1 December 2015
Charge for the year
At 30 November 2016
Net Book Value
At 30 November 2016
At 30 November 2015

7. Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables
Prepayments and other debtors

298
-
298

295
2
297

1
3

127
-
127

89
26
115

12
38

2016 
£’000
242
203
445

425
-
425

384
28
412

13
41

2015 
£’000
217
279
496

105

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC8. Amounts due from/to group undertakings 

Amounts due from/to group undertakings are unsecured, interest free and repayable on demand.

9. Trade and other payables

Trade payables
Other taxes and social security

2016 
£’000
191
38
229

10. Interest bearing loans and borrowings

Current
Convertible loan notes
Non-convertible loan notes

Non-current
Convertible loan notes
Non-convertible loan notes

See note 18 of the consolidated financial statements for further details.

2016 
£’000

1,264
110
1,374

1,052
849
1,901

2015 
£’000
347
57
404

2015 
£’000

1,277
-
1,277

1,009
1,830
2,839

106

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC2016 £’0002015 £’000Amounts due from group undertakings4,6575,0722016 £’0002015 £’000Amounts due to group undertakings9765,28211. Share capital

See note 24 of the consolidated financial statements for further details. 

12. Equity-settled share-based payments

See note 25 of the consolidated financial statements for further details 

13. Commitments

Capital Commitments

The Company had no capital commitments at the end of the financial year or prior year.

Operating lease commitments

The Company was committed to making the following payments in respect of operating leases for land 
and buildings expiring:

Not later than one year
Later than one year but not later than five years
Later than five years

Provisions and contingent liabilities

At 1 December 2015
Charged to profit or loss
Released in year
At 30 November 2016
Due within one year
Due after more than one year

Land and buildings

2016 
£’000
106
442
58
605

2015 
£’000
117
437
170
724

Onerous contracts 
£’000
47

(33)
14
14
-
14

Legal disputes 
£’000
100
(18)
(82)
-
-
-

See note 27 of the consolidated financial statements for further details.

107

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC14. Related party transactions

The Company has taken the exemption permitted by Section 33 ‘Related Party Disclosures’ not to dis-
close transactions with members of Access Intelligence Plc group. See note 28 of the consolidated finan-
cial statements for details of other related party transactions.

15. Events after the reporting date

See note 30 of the consolidated financial statements for further details. 

108

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCNotes

109

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACCAccess Intelligence  
Reputation and Communications 
Management Solutions

Access Intelligence
Longbow House, 14-20 Chiswell Street,  
London, EC1Y 4TW
0843 659 2940 
info@accessintelligence.com 
www.accessintelligence.com

110

 Access Intelligence Plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2016  |  Stock Code: ACC